Shannon Bourne

Bourne, long a popular sideman on the Melbourne music scene, made his name as a hot blues guitarist, but just as Syd Barrett wrote the song 'Jugband Blues' for the second Pink Floyd alum 'A Saucerful of Secrets', they were hardly a blues band, and this, Bourne's second solo LP, is similarly far from the 12-bar mother lode. To emphasis the point, he opens the record with the title track - a muted, dark, acoustic, sonic exploration - and a couple of electronics drenched numbers that would have worked on Floyd's masterpiece 'Ummagumma', the keyboards of Bruce Haymes out front for much of the way. Fans of guitar heroics have no fear, however - Bourne gives the fretboard a couple of workouts, notably on the smouldering, hesitant 'Bailing Dry #1', which builds into a masterfully structered solo. Elsewhere he mixes straight-up rockers (Sweet Whiskey) and meditative slow numbers (Charcoal Skies). It's fascinating to hear this accomplished guitarist explore and grow as a singer and songwriter'
(Jeff Glorfeld June 2009) - The AGE - Entertainment Guide

The aims of any artistic pursuit should be twofold. Firstly, to translate the artist’s inner thoughts and feelings into some kind of personal statement, and secondly to share that journey with an audience. On his new album ‘Dark Things’ Melbourne based blues rock guitarist (and Australian Musician contributor) achieves all that and more. Unlike Bourne’s last outing, the straight up blues rock of ‘Burn it Down’, Dark Things is more about moods and atmospherics. There’s barely a sound that hasn’t been altered, enriched or at least thought through with some deliberation. I get the impression that whatever wasn’t bolted to the studio floor, was considered for it’s sonic characteristics. Dark Things find Shannon in a contemplative, reflective frame of mind. What he feels, he plays. Stylistically, Shannon mixes it up too. There’s the Tom Waits like staccato guitar chugg of ‘Everything to Me’. ‘Sweet Whiskey’ is textured by some filthy effects-laden guitar., and the album’s showstopper, ‘Bailing Dry #1’ initially meanders, then builds in intensity to a crashing climax. Dark Things may not reward the impatient track skipper, however those prepared to invest the time in a genuine listen, will be amply recompensed. - Australian Musician magazine

SHANNON BOURNE | Dark Things
Shannon arriva dall'Australia, terra ricca di musica bellissima e particolare. Questo album ne è la sacro santa testimonianza! Un album cantato, sperimentale ma mai fuori dagli schemi. L'iniziale Dark Things sembra essere una sorte di intro da confessionale, ispiratissima, mentre Machines è caratterizzata da sperimentazioni alquanto interessanti. Stupenda anche Everything To Me, un blues originalissimo. Sicuramente non è un disco dal facile ascolto però con il tempo ne prenderet atto delle capacità cmpositive di Shannon. Interessanti anche tracce come Till The Fall, Sweet Whiskey e Charcoal Skies. Noto motlo le influenze di David Gilmour in molto contesti dei questo album, dal cantato alle sperimentazioni e molto english-style. Si si, non c'è dubbio che questo album ha qualcosa di particolare, e ogni volta che lo ascoltiamo sentiamo cose nuove. In my opinion Dark Things is a great great album! - GUUITARCHEF ZINE - (Italia)