Album Review: Peter Garrett - A Version Of Now

One of the most instantly recognisable voices and worldviews in Australian music is back after a lengthy lay-off, with erstwhile Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett escaping the cutthroat world of party politics only to dive back into the music industry shark tank with his first ever solo foray.

The dense imagery of opening track Tall Trees speaks directly to this return, just as following track I'd Do It Again is a straightforward address of his time in the political sphere (Garrett reflecting on this era of his life with head held high). No Placebo acts like an existential treatise on nationalism, the recurring motif of home drives Kangaroo Tail and Homecoming, while Great White Shark (nearly an Oils song back in the day) proves that Garrett's environmental empathy still runs rampant. He deals directly with affairs of the heart and familial commitment with Only One and Night & Day, before closing with redemption treatise It Still Matters in a burst of rapidfire sentiment reminiscent of his vocal take on the Oils' Who Can Stand In The Way.

The album's lyrics are clearly imperative but the music also plays an important role, a considered rock backing less powerful than his alma mater but serving these songs well. Throughout Garrett proves as passionate and thought-provoking as ever, showing that you can address the necessity for change and contemplation while remaining completely comfortable in your own skin.