Darren Jack - Better Place

Darren Jack - Better Place Hot on the heels of Darren's previous acoustic album, Solo Sessions, we are treated to that familiar electric sound we all know and love on his latest, Better Place. Helping Jacko reach that special place are Rosscoe Clark and Terepai Richmond on drums, Pat Savina and Sean Rudd, sharing bass duties and Sam Boyd on Hammond, Wurlitzer and piano. With eight of the eleven tracks written by Jacko, we can immerse ourselves in his broadening song writing skills, along with those magic guitar licks and matured vocal style. The title track, Better Place, is a slow paced ballad describing the inevitable longing for, and finding, the comfort and fulfilment of home and family. Something I would say Jacko found some years ago, which shows the contrast between his Third Degree days to this more mature presentation of the blues. Hey, I love both, but it's great to listen to the transition, while appreciating the former! Don't panic - Jacko returns to his rockin' best on track 3 with an Anson Funderburgh classic; Ways of a Man. Searing riffs weave their magic in and around some powerful vocals. The remaining two covers are the Cream number, I'm So Glad and another of Jacko's favourite artists; Chris Whitley with Say Goodbye. The pace is slowed down with a beautiful ballad on track 4; Don't Worry with Cara Robinson making an appearance with those sweet vocals to complement Jacko's. Tracks 6, 7 and 8 keep US mesmerised with some smooth playing and vocals before we head into a familiar rockin/shuffle boogie with What's the Hurry. How beautiful is track 10 - You Free Me. Cara makes a reappearance to help Jacko lull US into a trance with some beautiful harmonising and mellow guitar playing. Could be my favourite. Keeping US in this pleasantly lulled state, is the closing track, You Will Find; helping US to "find that perfect place". I think we found it with Better Place; great production, great band, and one of Oz's top guitarist/singer/songwriters doing what he was placed on this earth to do; entertain US with his heart and soul - and some damn fine guitar playing!