by Paul ‘Manny’ Manson.
After a sensational finish to 2015, playing support to none other than stunt guitar maestro, Joe Satriani, Patlansky hits 2016 where he left off… well planted and playing hard gritty guitar
In April 2015 he Patlansky released his highly acclaimed 7th album, Dear Silence Thieves, to great reviews, this was then followed in October when the bluesman himself was chosen to tour the UK and Europe with Satriani on his Shockwave Supernova tour.
IntroVertigo is his latest musical masterpiece is released on May 6th. This is supported with a UK tour during May and June. Both supporting King King, and then as a headline act.
IntroVertigo as no doubt everyone knows is the: ‘dizziness and disorientation felt by an introvert after spending more than 5 minutes with an extrovert’. Look it up! Urban Dictionary seems to be where all the cool kids hang out .
According to South African born Patlansky – IntroVertigo is about the music industry, being an introvert within that industry, and about life experiences in general from an introverts point of view, all experiences he often feels being an introvert he says. Who would have thought that such a talent has any insecurities, but then I guess you have to live it to be able to understand and express it.
A great name for the album as on first listening it left me somewhat dazed, confused and yes somewhat dizzy… Is Patlansky’s real meaning to IntroVertigo referring to that fact that we’re actually listening to a great talented Extrovert and we are in fact the meer Introverts. Just a different spin on it but worth considering.
Recently nominated for the Planet Rock radio, Rocks Award for Best International Artist, Patlansky is quick to point out that IntroVertigo is a concept album drawing on influences from bands such as Audioslave, SRV and Hendrix to name a few. As you listen there are the vocal gymnastics of great front-men thrown in for good measure.
And onto the music
The album kicks off with ‘Run’ and there’s no mistaking this album has plenty to say, a catchy riff shouting its way through 3:07 which then jumps into the heavy SRV influenced ‘Poor Old John’, about wifely infidelities and the promised out come if John is ever caught. I only wished that John keep running for longer than the 2: 48 run time, as I found the similarity to SRV’s “Cold Shot” brilliantly placed and the ensuing Solo expertly carried out even if the influence was so obvious. An abrupt finish opened my eyes. But it gets my stand out track on the album. Third up is ‘Sonnava Faith’ a dig at religion and its shameful going ons. ‘Loosen Up The Grip’ a ballad with a rising deflection in the pronunciation of the line somewhat Steven Tyler-esque. Then a great bluesy riff about living on the street.
‘Heartbeat’ a great guitar break in this track shows the guts and determination in the song and Patlansky’s desire to be accepted as the same as everyone else even though he says he’s insecure and an Introvert. ‘Stop the Messin’ see’s a more confident Patlansky rockin’ out about his needs for his woman to be more of a “whore’ in the bedroom. Something a lot of guys would secretly like I bet..‘Bet on Me’ hmm It may just be my ears but I found this mellow repetitive track very reminiscent of some of Dave Lee Roth’s solo work vocally (Living in Paradise). Everyone likes DLR, right? Oh and the song? Patlansky says its about believing in him and going with that gut feeling, take that chance even if your told its not the right way. ‘Still Wanna Be Your Man’follows on and this see’s him in a more relaxed mood trying to convince his woman that he still wants her even though he’s constantly on the road. Something a lot of muso’s can relate to I bet. ‘Western Decay’ ‘we lost those better days’ the tag line sums this slower tempo song up, yep you guessed it, it’s about changes in the world and ones that are not always for the best and then onto the final track ‘Queen Puree’ an aural barrage about the control his young daughter has on her parents. Some guitar shenanigans her brings this, Patlansky’s 8th album to an untimely close.
IntroVertigo a conceptual album about Patlansky’s growth in both confidence and song writing ability weaves its way through the disc’s 40 minutes delivering a unique blend of Blues Rock that on first listen can leave you a bit dazed and confused in what direction it’s going. Having listened to the album a few more times in its entirety I get the concept. I’m not sure about some of the influences as in track 4 Loosen up the Grip and track 10 Queen Puree some of the guitar runs are a little self-indulgent and not needed, in fact in the later I found it hard to follow as there seemed to be to many notes crammed in a very small hole ! sometimes less is more !! but that may be just me.
However Theo Crous, Engineer on Dear Silence Thieves and IntroVertigo, and Patlansky have done an excellent job in producing an album which showcases an excellent and exciting young guitar/songwriter who isn’t from across the Pond. He joins an extraordinary group of young talented Blues guitarists in the likes of Laurence Jones, Ben Poole, Ainsley Lister to name a few, that are now on the scene stealing high regards from their peers and fans alike.
Give the album a listen, put it down, shake your head then go back and have another go once the dizziness has gone. I’ll be adding it to my collection when it becomes available – and the fussiness clears
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