A quirky and unique release.
Red Whyte has been a constant factor in music along the Surf Coast for as long as I remember. Along the way he has performed under his own name, as a solo player, as the bands Network Groove, Catalyst, Surfusion, and probably more.
I met Red at the Apollo Bay Music Festival many years ago.
He’s equally at home in a wetsuit with a board, as on a stage with his guitar. The surfing theme regularly intrudes into his music. Why else would they have regular tours of King Island.
On past CDs Red has been joined by many well-known musicians – Jeff Raglus, Howlin’ Wind, to name a few. Inked Factor draws together Red (voc, guitar), Mitch Knapton (voc, bass), Peter Binns (drums), and Phil Smurthwaite (violin, harmonica).
Ironically, Inked Factor was one of Red’s first bands, going back to the 1980s.
Anyway, enough of that.
Soup de Jour is an interesting, and quirky offering. It comes across at first listening as a punk like wall of sound, but when you listen a bit more, there’s some almost atmospheric aspects to it, which really gives it a unique quality. Well done!
I’ve listened to quite a number of Red’s CDs over the years and it’s all coming together on this one.
You are in trouble now mate, you have to beat this, and that’s going to be quite an effort!
Independent
4.5/5
