Australian singer-songwriter multi-instrumentalist Xavier Rudd says a lot with the title of this, his 7th record, for Dark Shades of Blue is dusky and cool, more sober than any work he’s ever done, though don’t mistake it for temperate. Guitar-driven jams introduce us to a side of Xavier only hinted at on earlier releases.

Distortion often supplants the pretty jangly guitars heard before, yet the variety and effect of different instruments and voices remains, making this album seem less like world music, and more like a global record.

The dual messages responsibility and exultation persevere, but couched here in deep, serious songwriting. From the opening notes of “Black Water” to the title track to the rocking “Up In Flames,” it is clear that Dark Shades of Blue is something different and thrilling from an artist who has always carved his own way.

Mixed by Joe Barresi (Tool, Queens of the Stone Age).
" It was an honour to work with Joe Barressi. His understanding of how to translate what I do into a studio mix seemed really natural to him and super cool to hear from my angle. Jimmy Hoyson did a great job capturing the sounds from the source and combined with Joe's touch I can't imagine a better route for these songs to take on their journey into the digital world of today's musical reflection. It was classic while hanging out with Joe to realize some of the albums that he has mixed that I have admired over the years." Xavier Rudd