A selection of new and reissued guitar releases, including Album Of The Month
ALBUM OF THE MONTH
SURFING
Independent Release Available now 10/10
Made against the terrible backdrop of Russia’s ongoing war on Ukraine, Surfing, by Ukrainian D’Angelico endorsee Roman Bulakhov is a gem shining amid the gloom. The album is a dazzling, deftly eclectic dance through shred, hip-hop, metal and neo-soul, effortlessly knocking down the walls of genre to build something fresh in their place. From the impossibly fluid jazz-shred of Lonely Sad Tbilisi Dog to the poignant folk themes of Ukrainian Song, Bulakhov’s playing has a rare blend of total precision and superb feel. Yet he wears his virtuosity lightly and the album abounds with spark-bright flashes of wit that recall Zappa at his mercurial best. Recommended. (JD)
DEREK SHERINIAN/SIMON PHILIPS -
SHERINIAN/PHILIPS LIVE
(InsideOutMusic) 9/10
The partnership of keyboardist Derek Sherinian and drummer Simon Philips is a long one, and it’s interesting to hear them in a live format with Ron Thal, aka Bumblefoot on guitar and Ric Fierabracci on bass. It’s a muscular metal-rock-fusion lineup so you’d be right to expect fiery compositions and burning chops. Some of the 11 instrumentals come from their 2020 album, Vortex while others are from previous collaborations. Track lengths vary from nearly three minutes to the titanic 11-minute-plus closer, Aurora Australis. Bumblefoot navigates Sherinian’s lines incredibly well and provides jaw-dropping moments with his solos. Opener, The Vortex is one such piece with great swooping lines, a crazy shred legato passage and some screaming picking. The exotic Empyrean Sky is rich in Phrygian phrasing with sophisticated shifting syncopations. Alpha Burst nods to the band’s love of 70s Jeff Beck and Jan Hammer with a steady 16th-note pulse and clever changes as they deep dive into metal-blues phrasing and screaming synth and guitar tones. As for Aurora Australis, it’s a staggering sonic journey of rich band arranging and arresting musicianship. Live and dangerous, what a band! (JS)
DOM MARTIN
(Forty Below Records) 9/10
This Belfast guitarist-singer has his feet firmly in roots music with a facility on the guitar that’s reminiscent of blues legends like Blind Blake and John Lee Hooker. This new album features 11 songs that span Americana and blues with great fingerpicking and slide work throughout. Opener is the instrumental, Hello In There with emotive acoustic guitar picking with soft ambience and background effects. Daylight I Will Find You is a rustic footstomper with Dom sounding both growly and sweet while his guitar parts add old-school authenticity.
The balld Government has bite, again with great playing. Belfast Blues features a gritty crunch gui
