For someone who has been a long-time fan of jazz-rock fusion, I find it nice that the genre continues to thrive in the 2020s. Over the years, of course, what has come to be called fusion has ranged from the very electric, often frenetic music of groups like the Mahavishnu Orchestra, to more mellow sounds and the “smooth jazz” variety.

This week we have a new instrumental fusion release that tends toward the more energetic and complex, crossing into the realm of progressive rock. It’s the debut album by a group called The Outernet, titled The Light & the Fury.

The Outernet was founded by Australian keyboard player Phil Turcio, who has had a career as a versatile musician, backing other artists such as Olivia Newton-John, John Farnham and Antonia Bennett, and serving as musical director for s number of Australian TV shows. He as also worked with and recorded with American jazz and fusion musicians like drummer Dave Weckl, saxophonist Eric Marienthal, and bassist Will Kennedy. He also toured with guitarist Larry Carlton. Turcio has released several solo albums with featured guests. Now he has launched The Outernet as a band, and though he is the composer and arranger, the other members are full musical partners in the performance with solos and features for each. They include guitarist Emilio Kormanic, who is is an impressive player who can shred as they say, but is also a great ensemble player with the complex music of the band. The bassist is Pete Mollica, who is also an standout player, and the drummer is Pete Drummond, who knows just how much to play, and comfortably handles the tricky meter of many of the compositions.

Turcio’s music on the album tend to start out somewhat more edgy but as the piece goes on, becomes more laid back, as the well-constructed compositions go through their phases.

Opening, however, is a no holds barred smoker called The Fury, with the band blazing on all cylinders. <<>>

That is followed by a more nuanced piece in two parts, The Crossing Parts1 and 2. The piece shows a melodic side to the high energy level. Turcio get to solo on an old-school-style analog synthesizer, conjuring the 1970s. <<>>

Part 2 of The Crossing is pretty much a different composition, based on an interesting riff the classical music folks would call an ostinato. <<>>

A track called Mortal is a kind of showcase for guitarist Kormanic. It has the qualities of a kind of rock anthem. <<>> Later in the piece Kormanic aslo gets a chance to do some shredding. <<>>

A composition called Menacing Images is one that Turcio said had its beginnings decades ago when he was just starting to work on making his own music on synthesizers and early sequencers. It’s balls-to-the-wall energy level conjures some of the 1970s fusion scene. <<>>

On the other hand, the album also includes a more contemplative sounding piece, called We Remember which is one of the most appealing tracks on the album, with its melodic sound in a more gentle waltz time. <<>>

The album contains another multi-part piece, Running from the Aliens Part 1, II and III. Its keeps up the energy level. One can imagine it being the soundtrack for someone trying to run from aliens. <<>>

The album ends with bit of a surprise for this high energy virtuosic fusion album, a piece called The Light the other half of the album’s title. It’s almost roots-rock in its sound, with more vintage keyboard sounds like the Wurlitzer piano sound and the Hammond organ. But it’s unfortunately undermined by the fake strings in the arrangement. <<>>

The Light & The Fury the new album by the Outernet, led by Australian keyboard man Phil Turcio is a mostly high energy fusion and progressive rock album that has a lot going for it. The playing is first rate, the compositions are interesting often multi-layered, and there is some variety in the sounds from one track to the next. This is apparently one of those albums made by the individual musicians working separately in their respective home studios. Phil Turcio’s notes hint at the pandemic being one of the obstacles to overcome at the outset of the recording. But it all comes together quite well. Interestingly, with the manner of the recording, Phil Turcio felt compelled to state in the CD booklet quote “No A.I. was used in any form to compose, produce and record this music.” A sign of the times, I guess, though the music does have a kind of retro vibe.

Out grade for audio quality is a B plus for a good mix, but underwhelming dynamic range. It’s all pretty much at the same volume.

Jazz-rock fusion continues to thrive a quarter of the way through the 21^st Century with a combination of classic influences plus more contemporary ingredients. The Outernet, from Down Under epitomizes that with their impressive new release.