vinylfanatics.com

**Welcome To Wherever You Are: INXS's Bold Leap Into Uncharted Territory**

For a band that had already conquered the world with the arena-rock perfection of "Kick," INXS faced an impossible question in 1992: how do you follow up one of the most successful rock albums of the 1980s? The answer, as it turns out, was to throw caution to the wind and create something completely unexpected. "Welcome To Wherever You Are" stands as perhaps the most adventurous and artistically ambitious album in the Australian sextet's catalog – a bold departure that saw Michael Hutchence and company trading their leather pants for experimental soundscapes and orchestral arrangements that would make even the most progressive rock bands blush.

The origins of this sonic left turn can be traced to the band's restless creative energy following their massive commercial peak. After "Kick" spawned four Top 10 hits and sold over six million copies in the US alone, INXS found themselves at a crossroads. They could have easily cranked out "Kick Part II" and counted their money, but instead chose to collaborate with producer Mark Opitz and a full orchestra, pushing their sound into territories that blended alternative rock, psychedelia, and even elements of world music. The result was an album that confused radio programmers and challenged fans, but ultimately revealed the true artistic depth of a band too often dismissed as mere MTV darlings.

Musically, "Welcome To Wherever You Are" is a genre-defying kaleidoscope that refuses easy categorization. The album opens with "Questions," a swirling, atmospheric piece that immediately signals this isn't your typical INXS fare. Gone are the straightforward rock anthems, replaced by layered compositions that incorporate everything from Indian tabla to gospel choirs. The band's signature funk-rock foundation remains, but it's filtered through a prism of experimentation that reveals new colors with each listen.

The album's crown jewel is undoubtedly "Beautiful Girl," a gorgeous ballad that showcases Hutchence's vocals at their most vulnerable and emotionally resonant. Built around a simple but effective guitar line from Tim Farriss, the song demonstrates that the band's experimental phase didn't come at the expense of their songwriting prowess. Equally impressive is "Taste It," which manages to be both accessible and adventurous, featuring a hypnotic groove that builds to an explosive chorus. "Not Enough Time" serves as perhaps the album's most direct link to their past sound while still incorporating the orchestral elements that define the record.

But it's tracks like "Communication" and "Strange Desire" that truly showcase the album's experimental nature. The former is a percussion-heavy workout that sounds like it could have been recorded in a Moroccan marketplace, while the latter features some of the most unconventional arrangements in the band's catalog. Even when the experiments don't fully succeed, they're never less than fascinating, revealing a band willing to risk their commercial standing in service of artistic growth.

The album's commercial reception was mixed – while it reached the top 20 in several countries, it failed to match the massive success of its predecessor. Radio struggled with the unconventional arrangements, and many fans were initially puzzled by the dramatic stylistic shift. However, time has been kind to "Welcome To Wherever You Are," with many critics and fans now regarding it as the band's creative peak.

In the context of INXS's broader career, this album represents both an artistic triumph and a commercial turning point. The band had emerged from the Australian pub rock scene in the late 1970s, gradually building their reputation through albums like "Shabooh Shoobah" and "The Swing" before achieving global superstardom with "Kick." Their earlier work had established them as masters of danceable rock with an irresistible groove, but "Welcome To Wherever You Are" proved they were capable of much more.

Today, the album's legacy continues to grow. While INXS tragically lost their charismatic frontman Michael Hutchence in 1997, cutting short one of rock's most distinctive voices, "Welcome To Wherever You Are" remains a testament to the band's willingness to take risks and push boundaries. In an era when many successful bands play it safe, this album stands as a reminder that sometimes the greatest rewards come from the biggest risks. It may not have been the commercial juggernaut its predecessor was, but it's arguably the more interesting and enduring artistic statement – a welcome mat to a strange and wonderful musical world that few bands would dare to explore