THE LINEUP
The month’s best guitar music – ahand-picked selection of the finest fretwork on wax
Kirk Fletcher
Ogierea Records (release date: 29 July) 9/10
Seventh studio release from revered blues player
Around the time lockdown eased its grip on the world, Kirk Fletcher found himself on a mission to return to his roots and record a new album. In search of the correct location in which to lay down tracks, he settled on Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.“Fame is the mother church for soul music,” Kirk tells us.“It’s the same building where all these fantastic people like Otis Rush and Aretha Franklin have recorded. I wanted the vibe. I needed to bring these songs there.”
Assembling an all-star cast of musicians that included Reese Wynans (keyboards), Travis Carlton and Randy Bermudes (bass), Mark Pender (trumpet), Joe Sublett (saxophone) and a host of other top names from the session world, he laid down 10 tracks of soulful, gospel-flavoured blues in his own signature style.“I really wanted to do a blues record, so I sat down and allowed the songs to take over. I’m a bluesman, and I write about life. That’s the concept,” he affirms.
The album blasts off with the soulful bounce of Shine A Light On Love, each line punctuated by Kirk’s ever tasteful guitar: “Every time I pick up a guitar, I get down to business and play with a whole lot of soul,” he says. Lovers of a smokey night-time blues vibe will enjoy tracks such as Night By Myself and the slow ballad I Can’t Find No Love. The production is great, the guitar playing takes centre stage and the songs are rock solid. There’s plenty here to enjoy. [DM]
Standout track: I Can’t Find No Love
For fans of: BB King, Robert Cray
Gus G
AFM Records (available now) 8/10
Metal maven releases fourth solo album
Metal guitarist Gus G found fame with Ozzy Osbourne and in the band Firewind. And here, with his latest solo release full of distorted guitars and blazing chops, Gus has focused on strong melodies and considered arrangements. Opener Into The Unknown has a chorus that nods slightly to Dave Grohl/Foo Fighters, but the picked runs less so. The title track features a precise ostinato riff and some wellhoned lead phrasing, with expressive singing vibrato, too.
The shred-driven Chronesthesia is one of the heaviest tracks on the album with blazing runs and fast picking. Meanwhile, Enigma Of Life is an acoustic-guitar-driven ballad with emotive lead playing and a lovely unexpected chord change, and Night Driver embraces the popular synthwave movement and is the type of track Top Gun: Maverick should have had… [JS]
Standout track: Night Driver
For fans of: Steve Ste
