'Spirals' Review:
This week I have been favored with an excellent CD and a charming and fascinating letter.
Taking the CD first, it's an artifact called Spirals by the notably gobsmacking local guitarist Andy Grant, and it consists of 10 self-penned instrumentals played entirely on acoustic guitar with no overdubs. And, knock me down with a gert piece of teak with a nail in
it, it's absolutely gorgeous.
Andy's playing combines a deep-rooted melodic sensibility with the fluent and consummate chops that you only tend to find in the rarefied realms of yer Pat Methenys, Steve Howes and Allan Holdsworths. His compositions are full of fresh and audacious twists, and his mastery of a variety of tunings and fingerstyle techniques is genuinely formidable.Spirals is by no means a challenging listen, however. It's delicate. thoughtful, persuasive and altogether hugely
recommended to anyone yearning to discover how satisfying a combination of John Martyn and John McLaughlin could be.
Marco Rossi Dorset Echo January 29th 2004
Close this window
