Australian singer-songwriter / guitarist Gus McKay continues making a lot of blues-rock fans very happy with his 2017 CD called Talisman. With a guitar-centric sound that is kind of similar in scope to J.J. Cale, mixed in with some Peter Green meets ZZ Top inspired vocals, Talisman is a fascinating spin start to finish. In some ways, the lead off track “Art Of Living” perfectly captures Gus’ sound. In a recent interview, Gus says the track is about “Getting closer to the ideal, of getting through this life with purpose and dignity and still be inspired”. Songs about purpose and dignity are at the core of Talisman, which also has a deep connection to rural life in Australia. A sense of sparseness permeates Talisman and the album is a very graphic sonic postcard from Australia, which Gus describes in songs like “Murchison Sequel” and GinGin Morning”. Gus has perfectly tailored the sound and vision of Talisman very much around his own ideas of life and his lyrics are totally underscored by the excellent sound that Gus receives from his band, which includes Ronan Charles (drums, keyboards, and tenor sax) and Phil Waldron (bass, double bass, bozouki, fiddle, trumpet, cello, banjo, pedal steel and tin whistle). The album also features some intriguing album art to which Gus adds, “I found a particular design that caught my eye and created it from wood and old tin, for the inside sleeve of the CD.” Such attention to detail is rare and doesn’t go unnoticed, although the first thing that grabs you about Talisman is the sonic depth of these songs, which take some time to get into fully, but it’s very much worth it. Guitar fans will be amazed at the sound that Gus coaxes from his many fine instruments, which includes Teles and Strats—as well as a 1940’s Dobro and an Australian “Galvo” tricone resonator made from 100 year old galvanized roof tin/iron. Fans of Peter Green, J.J. Cale, Billy Gibbons, as well as other influences from blues legends like Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters, will totally dig where Gus McKay is coming from on Talisman. The art of modern, electric blues is alive and in fine form on Gus McKay’s Talisman.