HIDDEN VALE: a peek into the life and thoughts of Bob Brown through his poetry from the 1970s, put to music by Steve

HIDDEN VALE: a peek into the life and thoughts of Bob Brown through his poetry from the 1970s, put to music by Steve and enhanced with ambient vocals, acoustic guitar and finely-attuned production, mixing and mastering by Monique Brumby.

Across the 10 poems on “Hidden Vale” Bob tells us what happened along his road in the 1970s: the passing friendships he made with a Scottish walker near Glen Falloch, and with a seeker “from the mountains” as Bob caught a bus from Memphis to New Orleans; his thoughts while staring at the sky at the time Lake Pedder was needlessly drowned for hydro-electricity; his deep and fond memories of a “godfriend”, an exemplar of all the good spirits in the world; then, tragically, of his favourite boyhood birds poisoned by strychnine baits; his mood lightening when he recalls the crazy antics of seagulls at Sydney airport juxtaposed against the linear flight path of a “jumbo” 747.

Three poems deal with mortality: Bob’s effort as a GP to comfort a grieving mother; his imagination entering into the pain yet peaceful passing of man and child caught in a blizzard on Cradle Mountain; and when, scanning the universe, considering Life compared to infinite nothingness, strengthens his resolve and purpose.

Dr Megan Lang, who lectured and tutored Harmony & Analysis at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music for ten years, says of “Hidden Vale”: I think your voice is really emerging now, and you create a lovely mix of simple and sophisticated chords and interesting textures. It goes well with Bob’s unpretentious, genuine way of speaking.

Previous community radio airplay for Steve and his collaborations with Bob Brown has been generously included in over 720 playlists from Tasmania, Melbourne inner city, across coastal regions (Western Australia around into Queensland), in alternate lifestyle places like Perth Hills, Cooma etc., and even out on Lord Howe Island.