Single review: Davey Lane, ‘Komarov’

Words by Scenewave Australia - Published on August 22, 2014

Davey Lane is something of a prodigy. Easily one of Australia’s great guitar virtuosos, Lane first came to attention of legendary You Am I as a teenager, posting their guitar parts onto You Am I’s own website. Skip forward a few years and he’s been a full time member of the band since 1999.

That’s serious ‘dream come true’ stuff right there.

His musical resume is beyond impressive. Lead guitarist in The Pictures, touring with (Tim Rogers’ side project) The Twin Set, Jimmy Barnes and Crowded House, and part of one-time Aussie supergroup The Wrights (who performed at 2004 benefit Waveaid, with their rendition of Steve Wright’s classic Evie remaining a standout moment throughout my personal history of epic live songs.) Now, after debuting his own band at last year’s Bigsound Conference, Lane is set to release a solo album this October.

Komarov is the first tune off forthcoming crowdfunded solo debut Atonally Young, and man, it is good. Pounding drums, thunderous riffs and hazy, muffled vox stagger their way in, as the song really begins to take shape and flourish

Washed with psychedelia – yet heavy enough to keep my focus from waning – this is the kind of track that will undoubtedly sound as phenomenal live as it does on record – with plenty of room for extended solos throughout. And for the guitar lovers out there, it contains what is easily my favourite Aussie guitar solo in recent memory.

A little history: Komarov is based on “the true story of the doomed spaceflight of Vladimir Komarov in 1967.”

In his own words, at age 8, Lane  “became obsessed with space, and in particular a nerdy obsession with the Soviet space program. Despite ageing 25 years in the meantime, my nerdy obsession remains steadfast and testament to that is this song, about the doomed spaceflight of Vladimir Komarov”

Make sure to check out the video too. Produced by Zonk Vision (King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, The Murlocs,) it is pretty mind-bending.

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