The Outernet: The Light & The Fury

Add another to the growing list of great 2025 releases, The Light & The Fury is the debut from Australian Jazz Fusion Quartet The Outernet. Led by keyboardist/composer Phil Turcio, you get a collection of memorable instrumental fusion, and this band cooks. Opening with a mindblowing track "The Fury"; their incredible chops are on full display with those blinding unison runs. Yet, what stands out is the strength of the songwriting throughout the disc. I love Turcio's piano playing on "The Crossing pt.2", it offers a nice contrast to the synths with that pure sound. Guitarist Emilio Kormanic really impressed me, and I hope we get to hear more from him in the future. Turcio and Kormanic show their melodic side during "Mortal", stay with this one as it continues to build and the soloing is sublime.

"Menacing Images" is one of those tracks that has it all, changing moods, tempos, high velocity unison soloing, and more of Turcio's wonderful piano playing. This is not a complaint, but I would definitely ask that more piano find its way into these songs. Even the mellow tracks "We Remember" and the closer "The Light" capture my attention, everything is so well done. The three part "Running From Aliens" opens with heavy guitar and bass riffing, with the synth stabs over the top, a real kicker. This will have your head spinning, a dazzling display of intricate interplay gives way to a more atmospheric section featuring a bass solo courtesy of Pete Mollica. By now you should assume that all three parts are a treat for your ears, and I'll just add that hearing the electric piano workout during pt.3 brought a smile to my face.

The Light & The Fury is set for a July 30th release date, and should make many "best of" lists come years end, it's already got a place on mine.

Tracks:
1.The Fury
2.The Crossing pt.1
3.The Crossing pt.2
4.Mortal
5.Menacing Images
6.We Remember
7.Running From The Aliens pt.1
8. From The Aliens pt.2
9.Running From The Aliens pt.3
10.The Light

Added: July 23rd 2025
Reviewer: Eric Porter
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 1775
Language: english

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