Virtuoso electric guitar fiddling and digeridoo. It's rock music, sloped and sliding, proper rock music that'll knock before entering. Wait, that's not proper rock music. But I'll still take it.

It may flap in the wind and waffle but it takes guts to stand up so high and match an easy-going vibe with Sabbath, Hendrix and a rootsy rock performance. Xavier Rudd succeeds.

Riffs wind themselves around one another, drums beat with power, warms words are delivered with a refreshing cross-cultural accent, allowing you to slip into winter not fearing the end of summer.

Few succeed in making such extravagant use of the guitar, but with a few splashes of Australia and no pandering to gimmicks, Xavier Rudd does the job.

Fat Freddy's Drop sing songs like these - songs that everyone can enjoy, appreciate, and not feel like you to have to rock or dance to. A mediation, not over-eager, or indulgent. Just there. Get hypnotized by the bare-footed rocker and spin around in circles when he slows the tempo down. (Mike Smith)