PACIFIC LONGBOARDER MAGAZINE CD Review
Reckless Love - The Tim Gaze Anthology

Somewhere, maybe, there’s a parallel universe where Tim Gaze is a household name.  Sure as hell ought to be – and this double-CD set would be the ticket to take you there.  You may not have seen him in Who Weekly, but chances are you’ve been swept along by his high-octane, guitar-driven powerhouse tunes more than once in the past forty years.  During that time he’s been one of the strongmen of Australian rock and a recurring presence in the local surf music scene. 

Just check the form guide.  Joined Tamam Shud at 15, detoured across to Kahvas Jute, popped up in Ariel, a stint in Rose Tattoo, part of the Bushwackers line-up, a member of Jimmy Barnes’ touring band, countless solo and collaborative outings, not to mention the session, jingle and corporate work that’s helped to keep the cash register ringing…  And he’s still going strong.

He’s a mighty guitarist.  Emerging as a teenage hotshot with a tight grip on Eric Clapton’s Cream-era stylings, Gaze quickly matured into an Oz-Rock maestro.  His fiery lead playing is matched by rhythm work that’s smart and punchy, his songs are intricate and cliché-free, and he’s no slouch behind the microphone either.

So the 31 tracks on Reckless Love make a compelling case for Gaze to be named in the next Queens Birthday Honours list as the most criminally overlooked career musician in this country’s history.

That’s his Santana sustain on the Shud’s Sea the Swells from the iconic Morning of the Earth soundtrack.  His surf film cred is reinforced by epic tunes like Hawaii and Oceans 2 from Band on the Run, The Wedge from A Winters Tale and the elegantly-named Findick from Sultans 2 (where our man unleashes the Joe Satriani within).

Elsewhere Gaze works from a broad palette.  Jamaican Farewell from Ariel’s debut album is joyous pop; Goin’ Down (The Aussie Rebels) is fearless, four-to-the-floor Rock; Back at the Chicken Shack and Danger: White Men Dancing show Gaze in form with Deep Purple’s Jon Lord and the Hoochie Coochie Men; there’s the acoustic restraint of Bravery Award with Gyan and Limestone’s Reckless Love; even the slightly surreal Suddenly from the 1980s, when Angry Anderson and Neighbours collided head-on.

Tamam Shud reunions obviously pay off – 1993’s Shakin’ Out The Stones swings hard while the live re-working of Goin’ Home (Alvin Lee’s Woodstock barnstormer) at last year’s Noosa Rain concert is full-tilt mayhem. The Shud also took part in the 2006 Delightful Rain project, giving Gaze the chance to sit in with Peter Howe on the sweet acoustic tune Freshwater – it’s one of the standout tracks here.

The collection is another winner from the Bombora surf music label and, as usual, it’s a quality package with great liner notes.  No wait, it’s completely righteous – who else would go to these lengths for an artist who might otherwise be left to languish as a footnote in Australian music history.  All hail Bombora.  And all hail Tim Gaze – he’s the real deal.