Album Review: Elton John Vs. PNAU - Good Morning To The Night

Aerosmith and Run DMC. Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney. Ozzy Osbourne and Miss Piggy. Music collaborations walk a fine line between inspired works of art and predictable, irritating dribble. Good Morning To The Night is what happens when two different artists come together and pull it off. The Australian dance duo was given free reign over John's back catalog, selecting earlier, lesser-known tracks to create some energetic dance anthems and explore some uncharted musical territory. Despite being a little too short, it's another great album from Pnau and arguably the most exciting Elton John release in years.

First track Good Morning To The Night sounds surprisingly more like Empire Of The Sun than Pnau, starting with the same laid-back guitar strumming heard on Walking On A Dream and culminating in a summery, synth-laden chorus. The dub-inspired Black Icy Stare features some reggae organ and blaring horns that makes me wish it was from some long lost Elton John: Live In Kingston bootleg. Album highlight Telegraph To The Afterlife is a Pink Floyd-esque tune with spooky telephone vocals, lots of echo and a groovy bass line. Phoenix is the most Pnau-sounding of all the songs and a great bubbly dance track, hopefully coming to a summer backyard BBQ near you.

Good Morning To The Night is sure to impress Pnau fans and hopefully some of the older Elton John crowd who are a bit more open-minded. As far as collaborations go, this is one of the more inspired, unpredictable collaborations that can safely stand on its own as a great album.