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Having kicked around Chicago's experimental free/noise music scene for several years, Ryley turned to a folk-rock sound inspired by some of his heroes, among them Tim Hardin, Tim Buckley, and Bert Jansch. The result is a poised and accomplished debut album, recorded in Chicago by Cooper Crain (guitarist/keyboardist in Cave).

The West Wind, Ryley's debut 3 song 12" EP, features "The West Wind" and two non-LP B sides : "A Home For Me" and "Sweet Little Betsy" (w/Daniel Bachman). The B sides will not appear elsewhere, digitally or otherwise. The 180g, 45rpm 12" received praise from UNCUT, NPR, BBC and many other outlets.

"With the charming swagger of jazz-folk troubadour Tim Buckley and the resonant, full picking style of Bert Jansch, 'The West Wind' comes from Walker's first widely available release, a three-song 12". With acoustic guitar in hand and a voice like browned butter, Walker swings and sways in a lush string-and-piano arrangement right out of Buckley's 'Starsailor'; it slowly picks up to a swirling gallop without bucking the rhythm." - NPR Music

Tompkins Square label, established in 2005, has released acclaimed recordings by artists such as William Tyler, Gwenifer Raymond, Ryley Walker and Michael Chapman as well as reissues of folk, old-timey, gospel and American Primitive Guitar. The label has received 8 Grammy nominations.

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