There must be a million guys and girls sitting in their room, computer recording gear humming away, guitar in lap, working away at their songs and sounds. And here's one from a guy called Stuart McGuane. He says he's been playing guitar for ten years and that he 'recently purchased some digital recording gear and this is my first effort.' See? Millions of 'em.
I'm not clued up with the modern singer/songwriter stuff but I am aware of people like Beck and Beth Orton where it seems they have become bored with the accompanying instruments of yore and replaced them with a drum loop and a synth bubbling away. Hailing from Brisbane, Stu has sent us four songs. The first one 'Nowhere To Go' has a really cool guitar tone (and playing) and is a sad song with beats 'n' bloops grooving along with it - really reminded me of M. Craft (Martin from Sidewinder - who is the king of this genre). And it's great stuff - very relaxing and well played, but not too 'proper' or mainstream. Not what I'd normally listen to, but I enjoyed it and didn't make me race over to the stereo and get back to some Buffalo Springfield. Yeah, I'm into Moby...Moby Grape!
For someone's first recordings, Stu seems to know what he wants. He sure can play guitar. Fans of Pink Floyd will probably dig the Dave Gilmour-style guitar and cruisy Air-synth. Sorry about playing the sound-a-like game, just a bit tired from mowing the lawn with a push mower. On 'Here It Comes' the singing doesn't come in until after three and a half minutes - this guy means business! At the six and a half minute mark the guitar has some psychedelic pedals plugged in, continuing the enjoyment of listening to the track, in all its eleven minute glory!. A straighter Bevis Frond perhaps? 'The Pattern' actually made me jump out of my chair. It was scary. A very low sub-bass sound appears in the song a couple of times and, when not anticipating it, goes straight into your spine.
As this was sent in on a blank cd with a few folded pieces of paper with a few sentences written out and no photo of Stu, here's a picture of a painting found on the internet. -ND
Contact: s.mcguane@uq.edu.au
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