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MUSIC REVIEWS

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Joe Satriani Shapeshifting Joe Satriani, the biggest selling rock guitarist of all time, has always favoured texture and tone over histrionics. For his 18th studio album appropriately titled Shapeshifting , he admits to coming up with arrangements that would have him sound like a dozen different guitar players. To achieve his goal he called upon a wide range of collaborators which include legendary drummer Kenny Aronoff, Living End guitarist Chris Cheney, keyboard player Lisa Coleman (The Revolution), and on one track playing mandolin, Spinal Tap’s Christopher Guest AKA Nigel Tufnel. Satriani is among the pantheon of the world’s greatest rock guitar players for good reason. Listen and believe. (Sony) Billy Pinnell

The McClymonts Mayhem To Madness The McClymonts are the

queens of Australian country music, with 13 Golden Guitar awards, two ARIAs and four Top 10 albums. The singing sisters – Brooke, Sam and Mollie – would be sick of lazy critics calling them the Aussie Dixie Chicks, but it’s high praise. And like the Dixie Chicks, they have done a Fleetwood Mac song: their sixth album features a cover of Little Lies , which fits perfectly on an album of songs about love, life lessons and empowerment, including a brilliant break-up ballad, Wish You Hell . There’s something special about siblings singing together and The McClymonts have crafted another classy collection of country pop. (Island/Universal) Jeff Jenkins

Mark Seymour and the Undertow Slow Dawn The journey starts with a drive. “Crawlin’ like a hungry ghost,” Mark Seymour sings. “FM kissed in the yellow mist.” There’s an edge to his voice; it grabs you by the scruff of the neck and doesn’t let go for the entire ride. That’s not to say there aren’t tender moments on Slow Dawn , Seymour’s 10th solo studio album and the fourth

to be credited to The Undertow. The title track and the closing song, The Whole World Is Dreaming , are as beautiful as anything he’s done in his career – and that includes the classic ThrowYour Arms Around Me . I’m gushing, yes. But Slow Dawn is like the Great Australian Novel, filled with mystery and intrigue and images you’ll never forget. If Seymour is not already in the highest echelon of Australian songwriters then this is all the evidence you need. And The Undertow – Cameron McKenzie on guitar, John Favaro on bass, and Peter Maslen on drums – are key ingredients. Always sympathetic to the songs, they allow the story to slowly unfold, revealing its secrets over time. Mark Seymour has always dreamed big, and with Slow Dawn , he obviously set out to make a great album. The result is an Aussie classic. Album of the year? Without a doubt. (Bloodlines) Jeff Jenkins

Vader Solitude In Madness There are times when you just want to turn up the volume, bang your head, and revel in the power that is heavy metal. Vader’s 12th studio album Solitude In Madness is one of these releases. Their hybrid of thrash and death metal hasn’t changed much over the years, but it has been honed into a fine art that cannot be ignored. At a concise 29:29 minutes, Solitude In Madness gets right down to business and does not overstay its welcome. A certain album that started with reign and ended in blood, achieved a similar goal back in 1986. (Nuclear Blast/Caroline) Simon Lukic

Caligula's Horse Rise Radiant Caligula’s Horse have steadily risen in stature over the years via quality releases and impressive live shows. On their fifth studio album Rise Radiant , the band take all the elements of their past and push their ideas towards new horizons. Rise Radiant is an emotional tour de force that achieves a fine balance between musicality and emotion. This is a modern take on progressive rock/ metal, one that should interest fans of Gojira, Devin Townsend or DreamTheater amongst others. Caligula’s Horse’s appeal is broad, so check out Rise Radiant and get on board. (Inside Out/Sony) Simon Lukic

GUM Out In The World

GUM is the solo moniker of Jay Watson (Tame Impala/POND) and album number five sees the multi-instrumental wizard teasing out shards of clarity to illuminate collective confusion. Opener Weightless In LA evokes rainbows reflected in raindrops on roses and Many Tears

To Cry 's falsetto "oo"s will coax closed-eye grins, guaranteed. The title track’s descending verse melody calls to mind Bon Jovi’s Livin’ On A Prayer and your internal jukebox might also detect delectable traces of Boston’s More Than A Feeling within GUM's Down The Dream . LowTo Low is a bliss-bomb explosion and then Ultravox-esque synth effects counterpoise dinky toy xylophone during pragmatic closer, You Make Your Own Luck . At once nostalgic and futuristic, Out In The World will blow your tiny mind like a gravity bong compression session. (SpinningTop Records/Caroline) Bryget Chrisfield

80 JUNE 2020

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