Album review: STEVE LUKATHER – I Found The Sun Again

STEVE LUKATHER - I Found The Sun Again

Mascot [Release date 26.02.21]

We are being spoilt. Neal Schon’s album slipped out before Christmas and is one of his best. The earliest indication of Luke’s forthcoming album was a Lockdown video ‘Run To Me’. It was entertaining if not exactly startling. And maybe the all-star cast (including Ringo Starr) detracted somewhat.

The opener ‘Along For The Ride’ bounces along with those Toto-esque flourishes we have come to know and love, whilst ‘Serpent Soul’ displays a bluesier edge. The instrumental ‘Journey Through’ is a very fine slice of jazz fusion and the title track is another of those presumably autobiographical paeans to his loved one. Overall the album is jazzier and more laid back than previous outings.

There are a few covers in the form of the 10 minute ‘The Low Heeled Spark Of High Heeled Boys’, Joe Walsh’s ‘Welcome To The Club’ and Robin Trower’s ‘Bridge Of Sighs’. But that means there’s only five originals out of eight (25 minutes in terms of playing time) and I assume real fans would expect more. Compare this to Schon’s 15 track offering.

On the latest, Luke has emphasised the highly organic nature of the proceedings, with tracks completed in two takes maximum, minimal overdubs, and the aim for a more natural, almost old-fashioned approach. Keith Freeman produces and there is stellar assistance from the likes of Greg Bissonette and Toto bandmates David Paich and Joseph Williams. I have to say it’s nice to hear that organic keyboard sound.

Back in 2010 Lukather’s album ‘All’s Well That Ends Well’ was a real gem with some really killer tracks. Reviewing ‘Transition’ (2012) I wrote “It’s a quality album for sure, but it only emphasises just how good (and varied) was its predecessor”.

‘I Found The Sun Again’ is another well played, even effortless, album. We expect great playing but not really the economy in terms of original material. But maybe less is more. ***1/2

Review by David Randall

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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)