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
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Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024
ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
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