Musically he'd been playing a reggae influenced world beat style when I first heard him, but flavoured with some really sharp lap slide guitar. That sound has gradually been evolving, and on his 2007 release, White Moth, it began to change from something that was identifiable as any particular genre, into music that was an extension of what he was feeling at a particular moment in time. White Moth contained everything from traditional indigenous music from Australia and North America, hard rock, and simple yet eloquent acoustic music. As he was singing about coming out of the cocoon to be in the world around you, he was also spreading his wings musically.

Now, on his forthcoming disc, Dark Shades Of Blue, being released on August 19, 2008 on the Anti record label, he takes the next step in synthesizing the elements that have made his work so distinctive in the past and continues his evolution as a musician and a songwriter. While initially, compared to his earlier work, the temptation is to say this is a dark, almost brooding recording, calling it introspective would probably be closer to the point. However, unlike others who turn their gaze inwards, Xavier doesn't become self-involved, and the material on Dark Shades Of Blue is as universally applicable as any of his previous recordings.

The difference here is the emotional commitment to the material has come from someplace deeper inside of him than before and he's broadened his means of expression. This is his first recording where he has used obvious effects on his voice and the music has taken a few giant steps away from the easygoing reggae groove that used to distinguish it. There's a hard, almost brittle edge to the sound that interestingly enough gives it an air of fragility rather than the toughness normally associated with hard electric guitars.

For those who know Xavier Rudd's earlier work, the opening instrumental track, "Black Water", is your first clue that things on this recording are going to be different. Jagged guitar riffs churn and bounce over an almost un-syncopated beat, through which the low throb of the didgeridoo moans and wanders. This opening segues into the title track "Dark Shades Of Blue" which seems to be a commentary on the way the state of the world affects people. When he sings "You paint dark shades of blue" in the chorus, he appears to be talking about how the anxiety in the world is reflected in our attitudes and the ways we respond to what we see around us.

Article Author: Richard Marcus

Richard Marcus is the author of the recently published What Will Happen In Eragon IV? and has had his work published in print and online all over the world. The not so long-haired Canadian iconoclast writes reviews and opines on the world as he sees …

Visit Richard Marcus's author page — Richard Marcus's Blog