Xavier Rudd “Storm Boy”
Australian born and bred Xavier Rudd’s latest album Storm Boy has delivered the political punch his fans have come to expect, while still retaining his music’s deeply woven folk-rock roots. A talented singer, songwriter, and multiple-instrumentalist from Torquay, Xavier Rudd’s latest brain child Storm Boy is the long-awaited album from a career spanning nearly two decades. With Irish, Australian and Aboriginal heritage, his lineage breathes a fresh breath into the indie-folk scene, with a sound that is uniquely his.
Opening the album with the uplifting Walk Away, a nostalgically upbeat acoustic track, reminiscent of fire-side stories and the Australian wilderness, he sets the tone and scene for the tracks to follow. A stand out single in its own right, it attempts to echo back the answers to questions fans haven’t vocalised- and the line /It’s true I’ve earned these cracks upon my feet/ seemingly responds to his rich musical career.
Seamlessly moving into the haunting Keep it Simple and title track Storm Boy, Xavier Rudd manages to create a cohesive album while retaining highs and lows all the way through to Times like These. With a profound environmental message, and lyrics that befit a surfing, vegetarian, acoustically armed musician, Xavier Rudd’s nineth album has shown that he’s up there with the big dogs.
Album Review by Robyn Clifford
