rockola
5th September 2002, 6.06 pm
I returned from my recent trip to the European Tap-guitar Seminar in Belgium with a load of new CD's featuring tapping instruments. Here are some short impressions.
Jim Lampi: Greazy
Jim's third CD is largely an instrumental one. The Stick is not brought to the forefront as with so many other Stick player solo CD's, but instead works as just another instrument in the band. And very well, I might add. The music is a mixture of jazz and Latin grooves, with other influences thrown in for good measure. Jim enlisted the help of his buddy John Martyn to sing on one of the tracks, and it really needs to be heard to be believed! Other members of John's backing band can also be heard on some tracks. The whole thing was apparently realised on a small digital portastudio, but you wouldn't hear it from the result, which is a very professionally executed album.
Kuno Wagner: Zero Distance Run
This CD features Kuno on Warr guitar and his friend Martin Albrecht on classical guitar. The material is largely original duets by Kuno, with some tastefully chosen covers thrown in. There's even a Philip Glass composition included. Very cinematic - I had this CD playing on repeat while driving around central Europe and it certainly made me feel like a character in an obscure art movie!
Centrozoon: The Cult of Bibbiboo
This is certainly a strange little CD. Warr guitarist Markus Reuter has teamed up with electronic wizard Bernhard Wöstheinrich, and the result is a bold venture into uncharted, improvisational territory. Certainly no background music, this one. For friends of esoteric electronica. Apparently the boys are coming up shortly with a new CD featuring a singer in the lineup.
Alain Pinero Wolter: Guasa
Spanish tapper Alain Pinero Wolter has produced a solo CD of largely loop-based compositions. There are also other instrumentalists joining him on the record. The highlight of this CD is Alain's version of Fratres by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. Alain's instrument is a 12-string Warr tuned in fifths on both sides.
Jim Lampi: Greazy
Jim's third CD is largely an instrumental one. The Stick is not brought to the forefront as with so many other Stick player solo CD's, but instead works as just another instrument in the band. And very well, I might add. The music is a mixture of jazz and Latin grooves, with other influences thrown in for good measure. Jim enlisted the help of his buddy John Martyn to sing on one of the tracks, and it really needs to be heard to be believed! Other members of John's backing band can also be heard on some tracks. The whole thing was apparently realised on a small digital portastudio, but you wouldn't hear it from the result, which is a very professionally executed album.
Kuno Wagner: Zero Distance Run
This CD features Kuno on Warr guitar and his friend Martin Albrecht on classical guitar. The material is largely original duets by Kuno, with some tastefully chosen covers thrown in. There's even a Philip Glass composition included. Very cinematic - I had this CD playing on repeat while driving around central Europe and it certainly made me feel like a character in an obscure art movie!
Centrozoon: The Cult of Bibbiboo
This is certainly a strange little CD. Warr guitarist Markus Reuter has teamed up with electronic wizard Bernhard Wöstheinrich, and the result is a bold venture into uncharted, improvisational territory. Certainly no background music, this one. For friends of esoteric electronica. Apparently the boys are coming up shortly with a new CD featuring a singer in the lineup.
Alain Pinero Wolter: Guasa
Spanish tapper Alain Pinero Wolter has produced a solo CD of largely loop-based compositions. There are also other instrumentalists joining him on the record. The highlight of this CD is Alain's version of Fratres by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. Alain's instrument is a 12-string Warr tuned in fifths on both sides.