The fourth full length disc from Joe Robinson is the sonic equivalent of a cool breeze on a sweltering summer day. His estimable skills as a guitarist have drawn high praise from peers and audiences around the globe. This is merely one facet of his musical persona. All too often, a rare talent will appear on the scene with astounding instrumental prowess, mowing down listeners with dazzling displays of technical flash. Folks lend an ear, are duly surprised and move on to other business once the comet streaks by.
Undertones is aptly titled as it reveals multiple layers of gifts that are on display
Robinson wears a number of hats with ease. He produced and co-wrote all twelve tracks, topping each with melodic, soulful lead vocals. It is the strength of song craft which really catches the ear and those superb, fret board chops always support, though never overwhelm, what is presented. Playing in service of the tune is an art, which he executes with taste to spare. To give credit where it's due, Joe is brilliantly supported throughout by Pete Abbott (drums) and Anton Nesbitt (bass). They provide solid foundation work, jumping with ease from funk to pop to blues-inflected rock, leaving nary a blemish on this stunning set.
"Anything But Love You" has a stutter stop intro, quickly transitioning into straight-ahead power pop with a great hook. Opening strong, he follows it up with the punchy "Reputation" which features tasty rhythm playing by all members of the trio and is topped with a note perfect outro solo. Elsewhere, he hits home runs with radio-friendly fare ("Mindless", "Connection") and sharply satirizes the trappings of 21st century social media along with here-today-gone-later today trendiness ("Millennium Man").
Going deeper still, the narrative of "Snakeman" is truly jarring, ending up as one of the most beguiling creations in already impressive company. Brushed snare and jazzy comping provide the atmosphere, brightly lulling you into a false sense of security. The storyline is one that you could frame with a 180 degree twist that M. Night Shyamalan would offer up an appendage for. Delicate, ultra pro-playing from all involved (which is the rule here) culminates in a gorgeous solo that floats into the ear with the stealth of a cat burglar. If it was etched on canvas, this gem would be proudly displayed in the Louvre. Full stop.
It gets even better
Combining a clever, engrossing shaggy-dog tale from the road, impeccable acoustic finger picking and smooth vocal, "Let the Guitar Do the Talking" finishes as another highlight reel cut. Brevity being the soul of wit, the author makes his point with authority, leaving you wanting more. The closer, "Temagog", is pure poetry. Providing another pleasant surprise, this spoken word piece mixes autobiographical detail with peerless, free-form imagery. It is a wonderful epilogue to a record that takes you on an eclectic and ultimately very satisfying journey.
Undertones comes highly recommended. Meticulous production, top class playing/singing lift songs that are both thoughtful and incredibly catchy. Best of all, this is material that does not have an expiry date. He has neatly avoided the aural traps that contemporary artists have bought into in recent times. People will be discovering and enjoying this music for years to come. Count on that.
Here at home in the eternal now, you can support his work, purchase Undertones here and learn more about this talented musician via his website
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