South Africa’s premiere guitarist/songwriter shows his class again
Introvertigo – according to that doyen of good taste, Urban dictionary, anyway – means the dizziness and disorientation felt by an introvert after five minutes in the company of an extrovert.
It is an interesting thought that the introvert here is Dan Patlansky -one of the most hotly tipped guitarists around, and who supported Bruce Springsteen in his homeland of South Africa as well as doing the same duties for the legend that is Joe Satriani over here. With credentials like that you would think he had nothing to be fret about whatsoever. The record, however, according to the man himself, is about his own insecurities.
It’s also a release that follows up sharpish on the momentum that he clearly built on the back of his “Dear Silence Thieves” album – the first to receive a proper push over here – being released less than 12 months ago – and one which was universally praised – not least on these pages. That being the case it might have been easy for all concerned to simply rehash that record. Dan, though, is too savvy, and far too talented for that, so whilst “Introvertigo” builds on that one, it’s more varied, and arguably better.
The 10 tracks here are self-penned and short – the whole collection clocks in at under 40 minutes, as if Patlansky is happy to say what he wants to in the most short and sweet way possible.
In the rush to get a handle on him last year, there was a lazy temptation in some quarters to peg him as the new Bonamassa (understandable perhaps given that they are both talented men with a prodigious work ethic) but only a few times here do things occupy an out and out bluesy place. “Poor Old John” is catchy little shuffle and “Still Wanna Be Your Man” is a dark ballad full of real heartbreak but with a fine screeching solo, but elsewhere he even goes so far as to poke fun at his outsider status. On “Bet On Me” for example, he takes a well-aimed swipe at the “blues police” who “are out in force, harassing somebody else.”
Rather, “Introvertigo” is a rock album – one that takes plenty of twists and turns, but a damn good one – “Run” provides a thumping opener, “Loosen Up The Grip” is built around a piano riff, “Heartbeat” is a kind of campfire thing that shows the likes of Rival Sons how things get done around here, while “Stop The Messin’” is happily funky, with welcome organ flourishes.
At it’s best, Patlansky, has constructed something superb, and he seems happier when he’s got a cause to fight. “Sonnova Faith” is a brilliant dismantling of TV Evangelists” and “Western Decay” is a simple, but effective cry for the world to return to its old values.
Perhaps that’s why the record concludes with a song dedicated to Dan’s own daughter. Never cloying and sentimental, instead, “Queen Puree” is a blues stomper which sees the leading lady “contemplating my next move from the comfort of my outdoor swing.”
If “….Thieves” was good enough to get Dan Patlansky plenty of new fans on these shores, then the feeling is that the follow up might take him to the next level. With “Introvertigo” he’s surely primed for dizzy heights.
Rating 9/10
