John Butler Trio. FLESH + BLOOD. Jarrah/Because

John Butler’s Trio has provided me with some of my favourite recorded and live performances in recent years. So when I heard about this new album my expectations were high. I was not disappointed!

The opening track ‘ Spring To Come’ is a country-tinged, acoustic-dominated beautiful, moving song of lost love. The lyrics are like well-aimed arrows (”Lost my love, lost my light…”) ably supported by a wonderful melody and one of the most expressive vocals on the record. This alone is a bloody good reason for buying this album. But there’s a lot more…

‘Livin’ In The City’ ramps up the tempo big style. There’s a thumping drum rhythm and winding guitar passages that encourage the most vicious toe-tapping. Butler’s vocal is magical and it seems to me that it’s got even better effectively putting him at the leading edge of rock frontmen. As the song progresses the country vibe turns to a very rocky vibe to complete great song number two.

‘Cold Wind’ is next up and once again the most vivacious instrumental sounds welcome me in. Then Butler’s voice enters in much darker, more contemplative mode. Now this isn’t one of my favourite tracks on teh record but it’s still capable of beating the hell out of most other releases in 2014… Byron Luiters on bass, synths and vocals along with Nicky Bomba on drums are far from being bit players here - what a band!

‘Bullet Girl’ is another love and loss song which sways gently along with suitably subtle instrumental arrangement underpinned by the most memorable of melodies and heavenly vocal harmonies. It’s another moving heartnreaker. ‘Devil Woman’ opens at breakneck speed and with the most compelling blues-rock vibe. If this doesn’t get you moving your hips you must dead! The drum work here is wonderful while Butler’s spitting vocals spell out the sentiments as clear as hell. Favourite track? ‘Wings Are Wide’ and ‘How You Sleep At Night’ are vying for that right at the moment, but hell it’s so difficult to choose - they are mostly all stunning.

And so it goes on, with a diverse range of tempos, terrific instrumental performances and peerless production that makes every lyric and note sonically shine.  There’s eleven great songs here performed by a band that by rights should be ruling the world right now. Essential.

5/5