Album Review: Daniel Johns - Talk

18 May 2015 | 12:25 pm | Carley Hall

"The assured hands at the helm of this stylish production have made almost certain that there’ll be plenty who remain that’ll love and laud it"

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Ears twitched at the rumour of Daniel Johns releasing some solo material. When it turned out the former Silverchair frontman had taken Talk down the path of suave electronic pop, it’s also quite likely many owners of said ears turned away.

Changes in sound, style, genre, direction are generally met with an expected degree of outcry and derision – and Johns is certain to brush up against them with his latest. However, if the doubters choose to close themselves off, the assured hands at the helm of this stylish production have made almost certain that there’ll be plenty who remain that’ll love and laud it.

What makes Talk worthy of all the, well, talk, is Johns’ chameleon tendencies that weave a shimmering trail within it. Always one to move with the times, Johns takes the best aspects of his pop songwriting nous and dips it in dark, glitchy electro (We Are Golden), smooth urban beats (By Your Side, Too Many), imploring balladry (Chained) and, as expected, a good dose of dramatic high art rock (New York, Good Luck). His voice is pristine on singles Aerial Love and Cool On Fire, while guest artists M Phazes and Styalz, along with guest creative talents the Presets’ Julian Hamilton and Joel Little (Broods/Lorde) help push the envelope to capture the grand vision of this ambitious album.

Talk will live up to its moniker; plenty will be said, but good or bad it’ll play right into Johns’ hands.

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