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Released the month before lead singer Daryl Braithwaite’s debut solo single, Sherbet’s 1974 album saw the popular Sydney band flaunt their instrumental prowess right alongside his assured flexibility across styles. You can hear his robust range at work here, with Braithwaite smoothly switching gears as needed for the cosmic-tinged first few tracks as well as the skiffle-esque innocence of “What Is It All About?,” the funky pivots of “Handy Mandy,” and the soulful balladry of “When the Sunshine Turns to Grey.” Sherbet can still very much hold their own as a tight pub-rock outfit though, showcasing a live-in-the-room feel on the darker and more psychedelic “Wild Love” effects—complete with guitarist Clive Shakespeare’s hair-raising, Cream-worthy solo. The band continues to fondly look for inspiration overseas, finishing the opening title track with a winking countdown à la David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.” Shakespeare’s guitar-playing shines throughout—especially on the swaggering “Earthquake in My Head”—and the muscled rhythm section of bassist Tony Mitchell and drummer Alan Sandow follow suit, with keyboardist Garth Porter chewing plenty of scenery too. Sherbet would release four more albums before transforming into The Sherbs in the early 1980s, laying the groundwork for Braithwaite’s solo ascendance by decade’s end.

via Apple Music