A five-year creative hiatus preceded Newton Faulkner’s eighth album release, which is named after an eight-limbed sea creature.
His unique, percussive fingerpicking remains at the heart of what Faulkner does, although he’s switched out his trademark acoustic guitar for a distortion-charged Höfner violin bass.
Funky, vibrant electric guitar licks, percussive güiro and soaring vocals that evoke Gotye at times – this album gets down from the get-go, with hooks so catchy they’ll adhere to your brain like suction cups.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
“That’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout – OOOOO-WHOOOO…” – delivered with raucous, werewolf-level intensity, opener Alright Alright Alright sounds like an unhinged all-nighter in full swing. Ukrainian sibling duo The Bloom Twins (Anna and Sofiia Kupriienko) bring cheerleader energy to this one.
What Took You So Long, which follows, demonstrates what happens when Faulkner fully surrenders to his creative muse – nothing’s off limits.
Showcasing Faulkner’s heartfelt vocals to perfection, Spirit Meets The Bone boasts a gently swaying pace and tumbling keys – a synchronised arms-swaying-overhead moment for his future shows. Don’t Make Me Beg is a soulful crooner.
The boppy, Pharrell-esque Gravitational belongs on a TV network’s summer programming sizzle reel. Then Tic Tac Toe sashays into old-school, happy-clappy territory, resplendent with an anachronistic electric guitar solo.
“It’s so much better to be together” – sung a cappella, the closing Gratitude gives barber shop quartet vibes and underlines one of this record’s main themes: we truly are better together.
Faulkner often sounds like multiple musicians playing simultaneously, which makes Octopus a fitting title. After just one listen, you’ll want to “linger on it”.
