Search - Xavier Rudd :: Koonyum Sun

A Return to Form for Xavier, Albeit a Different Form

M. C. Tolen | Tulsa, OK | 04/21/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Good news is that Koonyum Sun is a return to form for Xavier with sunny vibes, great melodys and positive socially conscious songs about life and the world. Bad news is that if you're a fan solely for Xavier's digeradoo playing and amped up rockin' weissenborn licks then there won't be much offered here for you on this release. But HAVE NO FEAR! This album is unique from any of Rudd's previous releases and there is much to love here. Whereas Rudd's previous album "Dark Shades of Blue" was uncharacteristically a dark sludgy turn and despite being his most electrified and hardest rocking album, it largely lacked the great melodies and positive vibe that is most endearing about Xavier's music. Koonyum Sun definitely brings back the bright melodies, good vibes and earthy tone of the old Xavier similar to Solace, Food in the Belly and White Moth but with a new twist. For one, this is definitely more of a group effort with Izintaba, two renouned African musicians on bass and drums. Naturally, this album has a very strong African vibe with reggae undertones to it. Most fans know Rudd's love and influence of Paul Simon's Graceland and it certainly has that feel to it without coming off as a copycat version. The album has a lot of african style beats and back up singing that is beautiful and uplifting in conjunction with Xavier's vocals. The focus on this album seems to be less on Xavier's guitar and didgeradoo abilities and more on his vocals and messages. Which is good because Rudd's vocals and melodies on this album are among his strongest and the songwriting is his most heartfelt and personal yet. Rudd has endured some rough seas lately in his personal life (divorce) and truly bares his soul reflecting on love and loss in a universal way. No doubt,there is much sorrow, regret and soul searching here. However, Rudd maintains that overwhelming "look on the brightside" view he's best at and the music is a warm and breezy mix of upbeat and chillout tunes that would all sound good on a summer patio. Favorite songs so far include "Time to Smile","Sweet Green Freedom" and "Sky to Ground." Yes, the Didj is largely absent except on "Badimo." Sure I miss it, but Rudd has so much other talent and we have to come to expect that he doesn't want to be pigeonholed as a one trick pony. There's also not a lot of weissenborn, but there's alot of other innovative guitar playing that is very unique in the way it subtley marries african polyrhythmic and reggae styles.

Overall, if you're only interested in hearing Rudd jam out on the didgeradoo or fire up the weissenborn you'll be disappointed. However, if you realize Xavier is more than that and you like music with a mix of rock, folk and world music along the lines of Ben Harper, Jack Johnson or even Dave Matthews then you should definitely check this out."