ROB THOMSETT
GUITARIST
"Rob plays the hell out of his guitar. He is a good as Robert Fripp at his celestial best."
John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald, 2005
"It's a bit hard to sum up the genius of Australian Rob Thomsett in words – but you can bet that we're going to try! "
Dusty Grooves, Chicago, March 2017
The Albums ... to date
Apparently, according music magazines and contemporary music gurus, albums are "not cool". So here are my recent albums .. all 16 of them! So "not cool" Music to me is like painting and poetry to others. I am constantly writing, evolving and imagining. Most are available on iTunes, et al. If you contact me I can send you copies of the ones not on digital.
FOOTSTEPS SUITE
Recorded 2001 - 2002
My first album after a 20 year break from music. A double album that John Shand in The Sydney Morning Herald really liked. One album is "lighter" and one album is "heavier". These albums are about learning to fly again.
THE TEMPLE OF PASSING DREAMS
Recorded 2003
Inspired by an old farm house at Dinner Plain. Contains 11 minute song "The Temple of Passing Dreams" which explores various blues styles.
YARAANDOO REDUX
Recorded 2004
After some wonderful emails from fans of the 1974 album, I re-recorded it with some new music. I really like the update and the playing ad recording is better. My wife Camille did some wonderful art of the booklet.
DEUS EX MACHINA
Recorded 2005
I really start to explore synths and loops. Some heavy playing and writing. Contains 10 minute song "The Colours of Oz". Getting the mix of acoustic and electric music right.
SONGS FROM A BLUE ROAD
Recorded 2006 - 2007
I was travelling a lot and recorded a number of "vignettes" about how I felt. Some of my fav songs here. Available on CD Baby and iTunes.
THE WATCHERS
Recorded 2008 - 2009
Concept album alert! I wrote this set of songs about the increasing use of surveillance and cameras. I sing on it and there are a couple of "killer" tracks - esp "Heretic", "Terra Nullius" and "To Be Human". Available on CD Baby and iTunes.
MIRROR WORLD
Recorded 2009 - 2010
Back to pure instrumental. I really emphasised the acoustic side here. Travelling in US, NZ and UK so some of this is reflected in the music. Started using my Mac andf Logic ... wow!
SERIOUS MAN: SERIOUS TIMES
Recorded 2011- 2012
My version of a pure pop record. Lots of shorter (4 mins or so ) songs except "Road of Tears" which clocks in over 10 mins. I re-did "Road of Tears" for The Dark Catechisms .. better recording and playing and suits the concept.
SEVEN PLACES OF THE HEART
Recorded 2012 - 2013
Another concept album. I think this is my most complete instrumental album. Capturing feelings of the places where Camille and I have lived. Available on CD Baby and iTunes.
THE INVISIBLE EMPIRE OF THE AIR
Recorded 2015
Yet another concept album. Based on Steven Johnson's wonderful book and TV documentary series How We Got To Now. It is about the evolution of sound and music. Very Yaraandoo-like but 21st Century. Available on CD Baby and iTunes.
ARGON LIGHT DREAMING
Recorded 2014
I feel this and Seven Places are where all the earlier albums were leading to. I can't help it. I love the songs on this. Echoes of my more boundary-free 1970 albums, Yaraandoo and Hara. Available on CD Baby and iTunes.
THE DARK CATECHISMS
Recorded 2015
Probably my most rock-oriented album. I have mastered guitar sounds from Logic Pro X and there is heaps of guitar on it. Reminds me of my wonderful band OAK. True prog rock. Available on CD Baby and iTunes.
THE LONG WAY HOME
Recorded 2016
Rock, odd-time jazz fusions, vocals, the standard Rob fare. There is a 20 plus minute rock/blues suite called Fireground that has some of my best playing ever. Available on CD Baby and iTunes.
THE RUSTED HEART
Recorded 2017
This is a sort of concept instrumental album inspired by Jon Dale A series of "vignettes" no longer than 4 minutes each but I am really comfortable that I have settled on the fusion of jazz, acoustic, electric and fulte, sax. Available on CD Baby and iTunes.
THE ANTIKYTHERA MECHANISM
Recorded 2018
A concept album about th amazing Antikythera Mechanism (Google it), Prog, acoustic, epic. Available on CD Baby and iTunes.
THE DARK SONNETS
Recorded 2019
The second part of the Dark series. Similar to The Dark Catechisms but about the desperate state of our planet . Prog-rock, jazz-fusion, pastoral. Available on CD Baby and iTunes.
