Ashton Nyte
Dirt Sense (version 2)

Listen and Purchase here!

Ashton Nyte is a singer, songwriter, composer, enigmatic performer, studio musician, engineer and producer, graphic artist, actor and record label owner. He is best known as front man for internationally acclaimed rock band "The Awakening", who have released seven albums to date. Ashton, with a few exceptions, composed, performed and produced all the material released as both "Ashton Nyte" and "The Awakening". Sinister Swing is the latest of his three very individual solo albums. His stylistic influences range from rock to electronica, from jazz-induced trip-hop to acoustic minimalism and beyond. He has written and performed in theatre pieces, large stage rock shows and intimate cabaret-type performances. He is South Africa's own musical chameleon with a focus on quality performances and studio production which has already earned him recognition in many parts of the globe and still he continues his prolific onslaught on the art and music loving audience …

Musically
First let me be clear on this...this album IS Ashton Nyte.  I mean that because he did the vocals, the packaging, the writing, and all the instruments including the electronic and acoustic guitars, bass, piano, keyboards, synths, samples, loops, programming, percussion and everything else! This album is a re-mastered version of the original Dirt Sense. The album is such a drastic change from the normal setting we find him in and that is with the goth/industrial band The Awakening.  This album is a very pure and with a melodic  route with touches of alt and modern rock.  FOr fans of concept albums with a very raw feel then this will be a great addition to your collection.  I don't see hard core fans feeling this at all, but you never know.  "Sick of This" kicks off the album with a raw and acoustic blend of raw rock almost sounding like a glimpse of U2. But that isn't all you get on this album.  The track, "Eloquent Verbosity", takes a blend of electronica mixed industrial flair, through in some keyboards and very alternative sampling and you get this track.  Now, does that make any sense...NO...there is no way to explain some of the creative works of Nyte. And this continues on the next couple tracks until we then hit the acoustic blend of Nyte on "Window". You honestly never know what you are getting around each corner with this artistic album. "Clean Again" hits us with a touch of modern funk full of heavy trippy bass lines. 

Lyrically/Vocally
If you are a very mainstream and traditional Christian then you may not enjoy the lyrical poetry of Ashton Nyte.  Nyte is from South Africa and some of the accepted culture is still frowned on in very mainstream American Christian cultures.  There are mentions of wine and cigarettes and talks of sexual content on this album. I found the lyrics thought provoking, honest and very thoughtful.  Songs dealing with online pornography, loss of love, feelings of failure and ridicule plague the cd like they do so many lives around the world. The album also seems to take shots at the monotony we have held onto with much of the Christian movement.  Nyte sees a change needs to be made and even though you may not agree with all his tactics, it is changing for him.