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When a veteran group makes new music, the best one can hope for is that the band combines its years of experience and seasoning with the youthful spirit and energy that brought it to prominence in the first place. When that principle works like it should, the result is usually a great record that recaptures the elements that made the artist appealing in the first place, but that doesn’t attempt to recapture a youth too far gone to be reclaimed. Admittedly it’s a rare occurrence.
With that in mind, Purity of Essence, the second album by the HOODOO GURUS since their reformation a few years ago, is the beloved Australian quartet’s best record since its 80s heyday. There’s no way the Gurus can be the same band that made Stoneage Romeos or Magnum Cum Louder – they’ve been around the block a few too many times for that. But that doesn’t mean they can’t strip their sound back down to its core (two guitars, bass, drums and hooks galore) while still bringing maturity to bear on the songs and performances.
So it is with Purity of Essence. Leader DAVE FAULKNER‘s latest batch of smart, sardonic, ultracatchy tunes benefit from the band’s sophisticated power pop polish without becoming anything close to slick, giving his wit and sense of melody the setting they deserve. Faulkner is simply firing on all cylinders here, spitting out burly rockers (“Burnt Orange,” “Let Me In,” “Somebody Take Me Home”), sprightly pop tunes “Crackin’ Up,” “I Hope You’re Happy,” “You Got Another Thing Coming”) and sneering commentary (“A Few Home Truths,” “1968” “What’s In It For Me?”), making pit stops with a menacing anthem (“Why So Sad”), a heartbreaking lament (“Over Nothing”) and a couple of absolutely gorgeous ballads (“The Stars Look Down,” “Are You Sleeping?”). It’s everything you would want in an album not only by the Hoodoo Gurus, but in a record by any great pop/rock & roll band. With a title that gets right to the heart of the matter, Purity of Essence is a brilliant return to form, minus any aura of nostalgia.
