A selection of new and reissued guitar releases, including Album Of The Month
ALBUM OF THE MONTH
(DANIELE GOTTARDO) 10/10
Sometimes a guitar player comes along that offers a genuinely fresh flavour by forging new sonic terrain. This is certainly the case with Daniele Gottardo; an Italian guitarist now residing in America who plays a scalloped Charvel with music that deeply embraces rock and classical music. This isn’t Uli Jon Roth or Yngwie Malmsteen neo-classical territory though, not least because Daniele embraces a broader classical perspective. Indeed, the actual classical period (Mozart, Beethoven, etc) is less a source of inspiration than the Romantic period and later (Debussy, Stravinsky and Rimsky-Korsakov). With no pounding drums and thumping bass guitar the 10 instrumentals feature a bespoke chamber orchestra, inside which Daniele’s guitar is positioned rather than on top of it. Sure, there’s a lot of virtuosic playing going on (Daniele often plays exquisite tapping lines) but it’s stylistically honed within the arrangements he’s made. Harmonically rich, intricately crafted, hugely refreshing and wonderfully performed hence INkBlot’s maximum review rating. One of the year’s most unique instrumental albums. Astoundingly beautiful. (JS)
HERMANOS GUTIÉRREZ
(Easy Eye Sound) 9/10
This Swiss-Ecuadorian guitar duo comprises brothers Estevan and Alejandro Gutiérrez whose sound is influenced by 1950s Latin American music and Ennio Morricone soundscapes. There’s a dash of Better Call Saul’s soundtrack about their ambient instrumentals too. With 10 tracks, the playing is atmospheric with spring reverb and echo effects. With (almost) just two guitars featured, their playing is well organised with one playing strong rhythms and riffs, the other with rich and floaty clean lines. Opener is the title track, which drips in Minor key beauty and colourful dynamics. Hermosa Drive has impact with the use of space, mixed with cinematic Leonemeets-Tarantino vibes. Cielo Grande is an ambient ballad with dreamy sustained notes and soft rhythms. Tres Hermanos features their producer, Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach on the guitar melody which makes one of the album’s bigger sounding pieces. Unique vibey music that is well worth a listen! (JS)
CHRIS IMPELLITERRI
(Global Rock Records) 8/10
Fans of great rock guitar will love this three-CD set featuring Impelliteri’s favourite songs from his 12-album back catalogue. As the first compilation of his often hard to get albums, it features stunning single-coil based shred riffs and solos alongside vocals from Graham Bonnet and Rob Rock. The 32 songs delve deep into Iron Maiden, Yngwie Malmsteen, Racer X styled rock territory. Stand out tracks include Perfect Crime (pinched harmonics, blistering picked runs), Power Of Love (nothing like o
