Purity of Essence

Nine albums and nearly a quarter-century down the line, it's remarkable that Australia's Hoodoo Gurus have unleashed an album that sounds pretty much like what a younger, less-grizzled quartet might have cooked up for its sophomore release. That might be a detriment for some bands, but Dave Faulkner is one of rock's most consistent, if least heralded, voices and songwriters, so hearing another 16 of his gems that crackle with the same sort of hooks and energy he exhibited back in 1983 is a thrill, especially for cult fans who have followed the band through thick and lots of thin. The first half-dozen songs on Purity of Essence are equal to anything the band has ever released, with the opening "Crackin' Up" a perfect slice of power pop that, like the act's finest work, will have the listener singing along after the first play. Veteran producer Ed Stasium, who has worked with the Gurus extensively in the past, returns to mix the disc and tweak these cuts into fighting form. As usual, it's pretty much Faulkner's show, even if the other three members have remained the same since the early '90s. Still, although he writes and sings nearly everything, the backing musicians provide more than just muscle. They supply the crunch and punch with lead guitarist and Faulkner's longtime shotgun rider Brad Shepherd delivering taut lines that push the frontman's already good songs to the next level. Occasional horns drive powerful cuts such as "Only in America," adding a bit of soul to the proceedings. Faulkner's sly lyrics walk the tightrope between smarmy and humorous, a balancing act he's perfected over the years. While the majority of the album stays in rocking territory, a few tunes such as the lovely "Evening Shade" offset the rollicking, riff-based, upbeat material. There are no throwaways, but this would have been a stronger disc if a few of the 16 tracks that clock in at just over an hour were saved for B-sides. Since this is the band's first disc in six years, perhaps Faulkner has been stockpiling material. Regardless, there is real fire here, both in the songwriting and especially the performance. It's a welcome return for an act that doesn't seem to have aged a day since its 1983 debut. And in this time of ill-advised, money-driven reunions that never re-create the original spark of acts long past their prime, that's saying plenty. ~ Hal Horowitz