Kaya, welcome to The Curb podcast. My name is Andrew Peirce and this podcast is recorded in Boorloo, Western Australia.

It’s been a while between drinks for this audio podcast, and I’m proud to jump back in with a fascinating discussion with composer and filmmaker Ashley Davies in relation to his new film, album, and art exhibition entitled Gold. Gold is an album that is inspired by Ashley’s uncle, Len Davies, an artist who upon his death left a legacy of over 500 paintings to be distributed amongst his family. Ashley chose ‘The Lasseter series’, a group of paintings that told the tale of Lasseter’s Reef, the tale of Harold Bell Lasseter as he headed into Central Australia to search for a 15 k gold reef. The series of paintings, and Ashley’s score itself, reflect Lasseter’s fateful journey that resulted with his reputation tarnished and his death.

Len Davies paintings work as a counterpoint to those legends, presenting Lasseter’s journey and death as a radiant, beautiful one.

In the following interview, Ashley talks about Len’s time during the war, which is further detailed in an impressive article by Claire Hunter on the Australian War Memorial website. Ashley also talks about the presentation of Gold at the Sun Theatre in Victoria, on November 30, and what audiences will encounter when they watch the half hour film and witness the paintings after the screening.

Tickets are available on the Sun Theatre website. The link will be available in the show notes.

For previous episodes of The Curb podcast, head over to TheCurb.com.au. While you’re there, pick up a copy of The Australian Film Yearbook – 2021 Edition, which details Australian feature films, documentaries and short films released during 2021.

Here’s a snippet of Birth on the album Gold by Ashley Davies.

Purchase Gold by Ashley Davies on Bandcamp here.

Read about Len Davies time in the war here.

Purchase tickets to see Gold at the Sun Theatre in Victoria here.

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