“A burning flame. You see it flicker like a satellite.”
Here’s a thing! We have covered Wily Bo a few times in this magazine, but being relatively new here, I am new to his music. Also, our blues specialist Stevie is on maternity leave, so this one is down to me. I am going to start with the press release:
Taken from the forthcoming album ‘Time Will Throw Us Away’ by Wily Bo and Donny G, ‘Satellite’ is another tale from Wily Bo’s ‘Moonshine Diaries’; a personal story, another celebration of impermanence, and another pairing of Wily Bo’s voice with the beautiful backing vocals of Louise Ward Mastered and released in Dolby Atmos (across the sites that provide spatial audio tracks)—available on Qobuz, Bandcamp, etc. in Hi Res 96k and available in CD. quality and mp3 across all other sites.
“I dreamt last night I heard you call my name…”
We spoke to Wily Bo himself a couple of years back, and before noting a comment from that interview, I have to say how much I loved the cover for this single. I do like train journeys (albeit more Orient Express or Indian Mountain Railway rather than the local packed two carriages that stop at every lamppost)—and this cover has the night train passing the graveyard. It is the hook to pull you in, typical of Wily Bo and how he sets about things. He told us that it was always about the “whole package” with any record and the cover shows the attention to exactly that.

My review: “Satellite” opens with a dreamy rock instrumental before the rain arrives. There is a bluesy melody and a raspy vocal layered over the top. The background vocals add the support for a song about departure and moving away from a town that you, perhaps, have few good memories of. Having now listened to a bit more of his back catalog, it has a softer touch than some (“Drive,” for example, is a rough and dirty track I liked), and the layered vocals on the chorus give it a very radio-friendly feeling. I would very happily drive along while this was playing, a touch of Chris Rea in there somewhere. It is a strong collaborative effort between Wily Bo and his longtime collaborator Don Gordon.
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Stream music from Wily Bo Walker here
Stream music from Don Gordon’s Bandolier here
By Anna-Louise Burgess
We should note the home page for Wily Bo Walker is here where you have the merchandise, recording information, etc.
CREDITS:
Wily Bo Walker – Lead Vocals, Electric Bass, Baritone Guitar, Feedback Guitar,
Electric Rhythm Guitar, Percussion
Don Gordon, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Guitar
Louise Ward, Backing Vocals
E D Brayshaw, Acoustic Guitar
Kareña K – Vox Continental
Phil Walsh, Drum
Produced by Wily Bo Walker
Mastered in Dolby Atmos and Hi Res Stereo at Audio Animals
Music by Geoff Slater, Max Saidi, Tommy Rhodes, Kareña K, and Wily Bo Walker
