Sydney six-string maestro Plini has just unleashed his monumental third studio album, An Unnameable Desire, and it is a certified masterpiece. For a musician who already operates in the absolute stratosphere of technical guitar playing, this new record pushes his sonic boundaries into completely uncharted territory. It is heavier, prettier, more complex, and utterly brilliant.
If you thought his previous masterpieces like Handmade Cities or Impulse Voices were the pinnacle of modern guitar music, prepare to have your mind completely blown. An Unnameable Desire is a cinematic rollercoaster that perfectly balances jaw-dropping polyrhythms with celestial jazz-fusion soundscapes. Plini has reunited with his powerhouse rhythm section—bassist Simon Grove and drummer Chris Allison—to create something truly magical. The album also features mind-melting guest spots from Polish guitar icon Jakub Zytecki and experimental harpist Emily Hopkins. It is an ambitious, beautiful sonic journey that demands your full attention from the very first note.
But the masterclass doesn’t stop in the studio. Plini is about to take this new material on the road for the massive An Unnameable Desire Australia and New Zealand Tour this August. This isn’t just your standard run-of-the-mill club shows. Plini is promising his biggest, most immersive live production to date, complete with an incredible international and local lineup. Joining him on this epic trek are UK math-rock heavyweights Delta Sleep, Melbourne progressive newcomers Nightdive, and the phenomenal solo project Cenobia. It is a dream bill for anyone who loves their riffs complex and their melodies massive.
The tour kicks off on August 6 at Brisbane’s Princess Theatre, before tearing through Sydney’s Liberty Hall, Melbourne’s Northcote Theatre, Adelaide’s Lion Arts Factory, and Magnet House in Perth. Today, we are diving deep into the creative madness behind the new record, the pressure of evolving his sound, and what fans can expect from this monster live show. Grab a cold one, settle in, and check out our full chat with the man himself, Plini!
“I will be playing a lot of the new album and a lot of the older stuff that people seem to love,” he revealed. “It’s going to be really fun. We just did it in Europe for about four or five weeks, and the new stuff was especially fun to play.”
We ask Plini how different it is playing to audiences overseas compared to those in Australia.
“It depends on the place,” he measured. “I think in general, everywhere they get into it as much, but their way of showing it can be different. The music I make… some of it is energetic, but it’s not always so there will be a lot of people just standing and watching, and they could be having an amazing time, but it’s not necessarily the same feedback as seeing a circle pit (laughs) or people moshing.”
In the full interview, Plini talks more about the tour and what we can expect, overseas crowds and how they relate to his music, connecting with fans on different levels, his new album and what to expect, plus more.
Tickets https://www.plini.co/anztour
