Finally, the man is back. Deniz Tek, famous for his role in seminal Australian rock and roll behemoths Radio Birdman gives us a taste of his solo efforts with his latest album, Detroit. This ripper of an album was recorded in between 2010 and 2012, primarily in Montana USA. All ten songs are Deniz Tek originals, no outside material or collaboration were involved.
I have read that a year of preparation preceeded the sessions for the album that became Detroit, with album sessions beginning in January 2011. By the end of the year, 15 to 16 songs had been recorded and the focus turned to finishing the work. Economical guitars and powerful rhythm section are all that is needed to get the point across. A bit of blues harp and some keyboard colouring are the only extravagances.
‘Pine Box’ gets this train a rollin` with wailing guitars holding the tone for the album. Its catchy chorus, “Im alright now..” shows that Tek is loving life in between being a trained ER doctor and ex-navy flight surgeon who currently splits his time working in emergency departments in hospitals in Australia and USA. ‘Fate, Not Amenable to Change’ gets me excited. I dig the way this guy plays guitar and from seeing him many times over the years in many different lineups, he makes it look effortless. You get the impression that he enjoys music in its stripped down format, performing as a three piece with himself on guitar and lead vocals, Ric Parnell on drums and Andy Newman on bass. You wouldn’t be excused in thinking that ‘Twilight of the Modern Age’ could sit on any Radio Birdman album. This guys just writes great tracks.
‘Can of Soup’ gets the blood pumpin`, with his unique style of guitar coming from his exposure of rock and roll greats MC5, The Stooges and The Rationals whom he used to see in the late ’60s and early ’70s before relocating down under to start his career in medical sciences. In the early ’80s, he served time as a Navy flight surgeon with the US Marines, and flew back seat in F4 Phantoms in the squadrons VMFA212 and VMFA232. His call sign of ‘Iceman’ was noticed by producers of the Top Gun film during a research visit to the squadron and may have been appropriated for Val Kilmer’s character in the film. Deniz Tek is the man!
Getting back to the album, the whole thing is deep and complex in many ways. The stripped down trio format gives a stark sound that carries the weight of the words and from the lyrical content, it’s a grim assessment of the decline of the Motor City.
‘Falling’ is just your typical meat and potatoes rock song, but it delivers in all the right ways – plenty of gravy and not that many greens. ‘Let Him Pay for That’ is one of the darker tracks on the album. I get the impression that the song may be about someone he used to know well, but maybe chooses to not know any more. The final track on this album, ‘I’m Alright’ finishes as its started, a train that never stops, a trip with no ending, a rock and roll institution that will certainly outlive the likes of half the shit that is coming out at the moment. I cannot fault this album at all. Do yourself a favour and buy this little beauty. You can buy me a beer later.
Citadel Records
9.5/10
Reviewer: Adam Barbuto
Great review! Thanks for sharing.
no worries , 😉 , glad you liked it.