Bob Harris BBC Radio (UK)
Pulling Shadows – “Master guitar playing” “What a lovely album it is…” Legendary British broadcaster Bob Harris
read moreGuitar and Bass Magazine
Pulling Shadows – Strauss does a grand job of weaving American roots and African rhythms (not to mention the odd Latin jazz excursion) into his tunes. Just relax and let his featherlight fingerstyle playing wash over you.
read moreMaverick Magazine (UK)
Planet Solitaire – A six track EP showcasing the guitar mastery of this fine Californian musician. Many Maverick readers will remember Walter Strauss from his previous UK tours accompanying singer songwriter Corinne West. The EP PLANET SOLITAIRE is to be released to coincide with the first solo UK tour by Walter and what a vibrant musical mix it is. African and North American influences abound on this collection of six tracks ranging from the opening instrumental Djimbaseh, a song that Walter learned from the legendary Malian kora player...
read morefRoots Magazine (UK)
Pulling Shadows – There are a lot of very good things on this album: excellent guitar work by Strauss, both fingerpicked and electric, ecological songs, pretty straight country-pop, tricksy rhythms, and kora work from Mamadou Diabate. The sheer diversity of the material, however, dilutes the impact of each track a bit; but no matter, the man is class.
read morePacific Sun
Our published week comes to a close with an appearance at the Larkspur Cafe Theatre by the Walter Strauss Trio. Strauss’ debut solo disc, Pulling Shadows (2007) arrived at my house with a little help from his friends — and I’ve been spinning it since. I’ve been a fan of Walter Strauss since I received a copy of his project with kora master Mamadou Diabate, who also performs on “Pulling Shadows”. Of local interest, some of the recording for the 10-track disc was done in Fairfax. Strauss has harvested a rich...
read moreDaily Freeman
Pulling Shadows – Walter Strauss Shines a light with Pulling Shadows. “OK, stop everything you’re doing and go see Walter Strauss Saturday night. Really. The California-based Strauss is playing intriguing guitar-based music with an artistry that’s unparalleled. Not generic singer-songwriter fare, but something a cut above the rest. The first track, “In the Stone”, is a prime example of his formula. Even before the voice enters, the amazing interplay of the acoustic guitar and bass (Rich DePaolo on fretless) is...
read moreFatea Magazine (UK)
Planet Solitaire -2011 seems to be a year for instrumental guitar albums. In “Planet Solitaire”, Walter Strauss, has delivered an album that really does provide meaning to the phrase world music. Drawing influence from four continents, including transposing kora tunes to the guitar, Strauss manages to find a real community in his songs. It’s not actually a fully instrumental album, but it feels like it is. You get the feeling that the words are only there to provide a counterpoint to the guitar, rather than for the guitar to...
read moreAcoustic Magazine
Pulling Shadows – Walter Strauss is a stellar guitar player, with a list of sideman credits as long as your arm, but there’s more to him than that. On Pulling Shadows he demonstrates that he is also an accomplished lyricist with an ear for a good tune, managing to make music which is hooky and memorable, and at the same time so complex in parts as to be almost prog rock. Add to that some wonderful pedal steel playing, and the contribution of Mamadou Diabaté, virtuoso of the West African kora, a harp-like instrument, and you have a...
read moreVentnorblog (UK)
Quay Arts Centre Show – Thanks to a VB advertisement, I went to the Quay Arts on Friday night to see Walter Strauss play live. What a skillful guitar player he is.Walter took the appreciative audience on a world journey with his differing music genres, from the Americana to West Africa. His nimble, quick fingered style allows you to think he is playing more than one instrument, (perhaps he should change his name to Walter “quick-fingers” Strauss). I found myself constantly looking to see where all the sounds were coming from. Not...
read more