Summer 2024 Short Takes Brief Reviews
Fredrik Törnvall "Moments" 2024
Expressive fingerstyle and compositional skill stand out on the EP Moments, the fifth solo release by Swedish guitarist Fredrik Törnvall. There are no sonic diversions here, just sweet, deftly played solo instrumental
acoustic guitar reminiscent of the halcyon days of Narada and guitarists such as William Elwood. The airy and ebullient melody of "Beginning of Spring," captures the wide eyed wonder of a child capering in the first
warm sunshine of spring.
"Letters from the Sky" offers an enchanting tenderness within a playful melody, while Törnvall's application of space and note articulation elicit moody introspection in both "Leaves of Wasted Atumn," and
"Wherever he Dream." With superlative musicianship and subtle artistry, Moments rewards and inspires and will lead you to seek out Törnvall's previous recordings. A sonic journey I wholeheartedly endorse.
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James Filkins
Tom Salvatori "The Nylon String Guitar in Ensemble" 2023
From its title, the listener knows what to expect texturally from guitarist and composer Tom Salvatori's album, which serves as a reissue collection of pieces from two prior recordings: When Evening Falls (2007) and Ever Ever On (2010). To indicate more specifically, Salvatori's
performances on this reissue happen in concord with cello, contrabass, violin, viola, oboe, and oboe d'amore. The broader-stroked moniker of neoclassical is close to the mark regarding the program's compositional style
and scope, but intentionally quiet might be a more apt designation. These pieces are highly melodic, beautifully arranged, and exquisitely performed. They were purposefully created to soothe and aid in relaxation at
the end of the day and Salvatori consistently hits the mark on both fronts throughout this charming program.
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David Pedrick
Cullen Gallagher "The Cinema Detective" 2024
Unapologetically anti-virtuosic and sparse, this collection of mostly solo acoustic guitar vignettes nevertheless has a minimalist appeal as the recordings of John Fahey on the Takoma label in the 1970s must also
have had at the time. The culmination of "20 years of lo-fi electro-acoustic instrumental experimental guitar music composed and performed by Cullen Gallagher" is soundtracky because that's its raison d'etre.
The music accompanies the 2024 film "The Cinema Detective" which we haven't seen, but based on the mood evoked by the audio, can only imagine to be simultaneously thoughtful, weird and creative.
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Alan Fark