Album review: TREVOR RABIN – Rio
InsideOut Music [Release date 06.10.23]
Rio is the first vocal led album Trevor Rabin has released since ‘Can’t Look Away’ in 1989. He has been busy in the interim with both solo instrumental releases and he has also become a prolific film score writer, including the music for the National Treasure trilogy of movies. The recording of this album was a bit of a protracted affair, so has it been worth the 30 odd year wait?
The opening riff to ‘Big Mistakes’ gets things off to a rocking start. This track is a fairly straight forward song, catchy, with a great melody. Rabin’s guitar work shines through, never one to play it safe his off kilter solo fits the brief perfectly and sets the tone for the rest of the album.
‘Push’ opens with a staccato riff that that gradually morphs into a monster of a track. Again, shot through with melody and harmony, the song twists and turns with time and key changes around every corner. Rabin’s vocals are spot on throughout which makes you wonder why it has taken him 30 plus years to get back behind the mic. Perhaps he is happier letting his guitar do the talking?
The pace then slows for a song that has been on the drawing board for many years. Trevor starting writing ‘Oklahoma’ not long after the bombing in the city in 1995 which claimed 168 lives. He was so touched by the events that he wrote a song in memory of those lost and those loved ones that were left behind. The song builds slowly from a chaotic start into a huge soundscape that brings to mind scenes of open plains and huge skies. There is definite cinematic vibe to the song with the sweeping, orchestrated passages adding to the atmosphere.
The pace and mood are then upped by ‘Paradise’. This is a sunny, feel-good song with a hooky chorus that will have you singing along. There is a bit of a country feel, especially in the guitar solo, which enhances the uplifting spirit of the track, and it then ends on a bit of a jazzy note for good measure.
The noises at the start of ‘Thandi’ sound like someone doing something unspeakable to a Muppet, however, the song soon develops into a bit of a prog workout. Rabin again shows off his fretboard prowess to great effect with blistering solos throughout. We then head back into country territory with ‘Goodbye’ which is a full-on hoedown, complete with banjo underpinnings.
Synth enhanced harmony vocals feature on the opening of ‘Tumbleweed’. This is a softer track with acoustic guitar passages which are gently strummed over a simple melody. The quiet, reflective vibe is then continued on ‘These Tears’ which has an ethereal quality to it.
Rabin then returns to his South African roots with ‘Egoli’ which is the Zulu name for Johannesburg. The track has a decidedly African feel with a great rhythm and melody. ‘Toxic’ finally rounds off the album with a dirty, blues laden riff that again morphs through different styles and genres, which keeps things interesting.
‘Rio’ may have been an album with one of the longest gestation periods in the history of rock, but Trevor can be rightly proud of the results. Can’t wait for his next vocal outing in 2055 (possibly?) ****
Review by Dave Wilson
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Next session: Sunday 1 December
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024
ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)
Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections