Dan Webb has spent the past 18 years making genre labels work overtime. Progressive keyboard rock, post-punk, electro-jazz and psychedelic fusion have all passed through his catalogue, usually colliding somewhere along the way. His fifth album, Lion Dance, will arrive on November 13 and takes that restless approach onto an international stage.
Lion Dance links the Australian producer and composer with players whose credits reach Prince, David Bowie, Radiohead, Thundercat and the Rolling Stones. Webb has always enjoyed smashing jazz, rock and electronic music together; this time, the scale has grown considerably.
The album follows 2023’s Sunshine/Dialogue, a release that earned widespread critical acclaim and a nomination for Self-Producing Artist of the Year at the 2024 Music Producer & Engineers’ Guild of Australia Awards.
“Things Rise and Fall (feat. Logan Kane)” provides the clearest preview of Lion Dance so far. The record’s got LA bassist Logan Kane on it, the guy who’s played with Louis Cole and KNOWER, plus drummer Clive Deamer from Radiohead and Portishead. Stevie Blacke plays strings and Nate Werth, who drums for Snarky Puppy and Ghost-Note, adds some extra percussion on top.
The track is big, busy and cinematic. Bass and drums keep it charging forward, while strings and percussion pile detail around the central rhythm. Webb has built a wall of sound with plenty happening inside it, drawing energy from the sheer range of personalities in the room.
Circle November 13 in your calendar: Lion Dance lands that day.
