Search - Adrian Belew :: The Guitar As Orchestra

Prety

Ignacio ataratutarap Andueza | Talca, Chile | 04/18/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love it. I used to go to the church every day, but that's the best music since I hear Lobito's guitar, and the most important pice of art before tio pepe's dancing number. I love it"

Difficult, Beautiful Music

Cynth B. | Central Coast, CA USA | 07/23/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Out of curiosity, I decided to purchase Adrian Belew's woefully underrated album, The Experimental Guitar Series Volume 1: The Guitar As Orchestra. As an appreciative listener, I anticipated something unique. I was not disappointed. This album is the sort of effort that is a deeply personal expression, one that is clearly not meant to be "mainstream. "



There are so many layers to this album...not so much like an onion, but rather like the layers of atmosphere...these ten tracks are more breathtaking the higher one goes up in elevation. It is rather difficult for me to say that any one track is better than the others. It's not quite that sort of album.



My only quibble is that it is far too short a collection of Belew's technical genius, which is clearly apparent in his use of musical tools. Of course, not everyone is into difficult music as I am. For me, The Guitar As Orchestra is a movable feast that, once the last coda sounds, leaves me hungry for more. It is regrettable that most music "critics" don't fully understand this album. It certainly takes some getting used to for most listeners, but I assure you that the challenge it creates for the listener is evolutionary in its scope and effect.



I did discover an echo of the beginning strains of his song, "May 1, 1990" (from his album, Here) in the track, "Finale." This discovery made me realize that there are no useless themes in Belew's ouevre: one musical concept inspires subsequent works. This evocation of thematic connection places Guitar As Orchestra apart from the work of his contemporaries as one would compare the works of Mozart with the middling efforts of Salieri. My hope is that--unlike Mozart--Belew's genius becomes universally appreciated while he's still here around to benefit from the acceptance he deserves.



If you don't want your brain to be stimulated, then perhaps this is not your sort of musical fare. What a regrettable state of affairs for music that such an engaging work as this is considered "marginal." It is a loss for those who pass up this incredible banquet for the ears, mind and soul. I'm just happy that I was able to discover this gem. It is a most precious and underappreciated diamond in a world that drools for mere charcoal."