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Dave Dobbyn: Available Light

It's been five years since Dave Dobbyn last graced us with an album of new material. This record, co-produced with former Muttonbird David Long, began with pre-production and recording in Auckland with Neil Finn before being finished off and mixed by Lee Prebble in Wellington. While this could have lead to an uneven result, the outcome is actually a very together set of songs which consistently touch the heart and mind of the listener. These songs would have to be Dobbyn's best in over a decade as they address themes of relationships, faith and commitment in both a personal and global way. Along the way there's also been a musical reinvention as Dobbyn has become less the energetic rocker and more the rootsier contemplative songwriter. The hooks are still very much there even if the guitar is turned down and the piano comes to the fore more often. In using Bones Hillman on bass and drummer Ross Burge he has put together the perfect rhythm section for his music while the subtle horn work from various Fat Freddy's and TrinityRoots members just adds to the overall warmth of what may well prove to be Dave Dobbyn's most successful and enduring record.

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