Man Out Of Time

Nicolaas Walle March 2022

man happily out of time, Nicolaas Walle likes to party like it’s 1969.

Walle 14MAY19

Being a stupidly-talented multi-instrumentalist, the Delgany singer-songwriter likes to explore just how far this music we call rock can be expanded and explored.

Once it’s all done in the best possible taste, of course.

Which would explain the lad’s love of Yes, Peter Gabriel and other prog rock gods who dared to go where punk couldn’t care less to tread. This is music in widescreen, surround-sound and, with right vitamins and nutrients, 3D. And it’s at the heart of Walle’s new album, Strange Time, Strange Place.

Credited to Nicolaas Walle And Friends, the album is the result of a final year college project, with the man himself creating all of the instrumentation, recording, mixing and mastering at his Delgany home.

The friends coming board to lend their vocals to this Alan Parsons Project-inspired album are Derek McDonnell, Sadbh Bashford-Rance, Ally Finnegan-Quirke, Ciara Adamson, Jack Joyce and Conor Leary, with the albums sleeve artwork created by Garbriel Berg. You can find out more about Strange Time, Strange Place right about here.

In the meantime, we asked Nicolaas to let us know where this passion for prog first took root, and what are the songs that can still make him break down and cry…

I’ve always loved very dramatic music, even at a young age. It was only natural that I would eventually discover and become immersed in genres such as progressive rock and psychedelic, as well as blues and jazz fusion.

That kind of music really speaks to me. The focus on the quality of instrumentation is also a massive draw for me, particularly in prog rock. It draws on what I’d see as the best elements of classical, jazz, rock and many other genres of music, together in an exciting and experimental way that I simply love to listen to.

Which may explain my choices when it comes to the Tracks Of My Years…

Yes Onward
By my favourite band of all time, this is a love song written by their bass player, the late Chris Squire, who was a legend. His lyrics contrast from the style of lead singer Jon Anderson in that they are simple and easy to interpret, yet have a genuine and honest beauty to them. Similarly, although I usually love the complex, lengthy ambitious compositions of YES, this song is simpler, but still a melodic, beautiful song.

Pond Sweep Me Off My Feet
I rarely skip this song when it comes up on shuffle because it has a very infectious vibe to it. It’s by Pond, the Australian psychedelic band. The sonic textures of the song are great and the lyrics are playful, not to mention the fact that it has an insanely catchy chorus.

Rush Spirit Of Radio
Another one of my favourite bands is Rush, and this song was my introduction to them. Musically, the song is exciting and euphoric and the lyrics, written by Neil Peart, the late virtuosic drummer, are, as usual, clever and creative. They describe the power of music over people’s mood and day as well as the issue of authenticity within music.

Peter Gabriel Signal To Noise
This track by Peter Gabriel is a dramatic, cinematic experience featuring not only Peter’s iconic gravelly voice and an orchestra but also the insanely passionate vocals of Nusrat Fateh Ali-Khan. It is an incredibly exciting song to listen to and demonstrates the ability of Peter to create tension and release in his music.

Yes Close To The Edge
This song is the longest on the list, but not the longest I considered for the list. It lasts for about 18 minutes and 40 seconds. It is a true prog rock classic and goes from opening birdsong and crystal-like textures to drama and tension, to melodic, groovy passages, a lovely beautiful atmospheric “sea of sound” as Jon Anderson (singer) described it, and then back to an epic conclusion which revisits several themes from earlier in the piece before dissolving back into the sounds of birdsong and nature. A true milestone in it’s genre.

Nicolaas Walle’s And Friends’ Strange Time, Strange Place is available on Bandcamp here. You can also check out our May 2019 interview with the lad himself right here.