Music - the single method of communication driven solely by emotion. The tracks on Sonic Bridges - A Compilation are full of such emotive power that a new blog category, CD Recommendation, is launched in support of this work. If you’re looking for new pop this is not for you. If you’re looking for multi-layered, complex music from new professionals, get this CD.
The cuts:
Nightmares - Jeff Treadwell: This riff-laden track laced with reverb opens the CD. The grove rises to an aggressive guitar symphony and grows increasingly intense from there. The hot shreds are interlaced with powerful chording. Treadwell knows when to make his guitar scream and, more importantly, when to wring his soul upon its neck.
Right the Wrong – Mark Court: The thumping rhythm of this song gets in your head and makes it bob. Court throws out lyrical hooks and rhymes impersonating the basic pop tune and then, on a downbeat, looses a deep river that conjures images of two ex-lovers meeting on a dark street in the rain.
Running in the Changing Weather – Teemu Kleemola: This song’s rich, multi-layered introduction blends into ripping shred that only well calloused guitar fingers can play without losing blood. Like other cuts on the CD, the changes are sharp, unexpected and focused. This is not a boring pop song, but a masterful musician sharing the fret board.
Monster – Antony Reynaert: “Monster” is my second favorite song on the CD. Cross a clean guitar tone with a soulful violin and you have 4 minutes and 11 seconds of music you want to close your eyes to. Seriously, listen to this song under headphone in the dark and enjoy the pictures that unfold in your imagination.
Pipe Dream Reality – Norman Kim: “Pipe Dream” wastes no time accelerating into shred. Unlike so many other guitar players who’ve mastered sweep picking, Kim knows there’s more to music than a barrage of notes played fast. The guitar’s speed would make the guys in DragonForce a bit woozy, but Kim knows when to toss in surprise and a sweet classical-laced phrase.
Journey’s End – Lee Gattenby: Acoustic competence and strong chording accompany this heartfelt song about chasing dreams. The guitar fills echo the determined lyrics and the song reverberates with the hopefulness of any aspiring artist.
Driven – Mike Breen: A funky and delicious jam that makes your muscles move. The guitar work is impressive and, even at climax, tightly on beat. Don’t listen to this tune while driving unless you desire speeding tickets.
Another Weekday Night – Char Davis: Like the intermission of an intense double-feature, this jam deviates from the shredding of the other tracks. This song is pure blues, so much so that you can almost taste the nicotine air of a smoky bar and envision the dark stage with a Stratocaster-wielding technicians.
Noemie – Denis Pierre Clement: The funny thing about romantic songs is that the language they’re in doesn’t matter. If the singer’s passionate, you can hear it; and this song is no exception. You can hear the singer’s heart break, mend and prepare to risk it all again.
Celestial – Andy Mclaughlan: The song’s title fits its name well. The guitar introduction is spooky as the night sky. The powerful guitar verse rips through the song with the bright intensity of lighting. If you’re able, listen to this song while watching a lightning storm in the desert.
Reunion – Hugo Monteiro: A heavy-metal style rhythm guitar opens under a piercing, finger scorching lead. Monteiro plays with speed that would melt the calluses off another player’s fingertip. The fast riffs build to soul wrenching wails. The song contains sufficient inspiration and melody for an entire CD of its own. If you play guitar, this song will make you practice. If you don’t play guitar, you’ll want to find the nearest Sam Ash.
No Signal – Nancy Hutagalung: “No Signal” is my absolute favorite cut. From the mysterious opening to the first guitar notes spitting fire over bass drums, this song nails itself into your soul. The snare drums roll on like a marching band fronted by long-haired guitar players. The composer’s classical training is clear, but her soul is that of a rock star. Some songs stay with you like your own soundtrack, possibly because some songs say what cannot be put into words. For me, this is one of them.
Tastee Freeze – Bill Kelley: The drums and bass prod you and the guitar throws out a bluesy hook. Those of us who did go “grow up on the edge of town” and visited the local Tastee Freeze, will get this tight tune.
If the CD has a weakness it’s in the fact that the buyer receives a lot of music, more than one would expect from a CD of its price. It’s not a CD to add to the iPod and forget about, but one to utilize often and in wildly different circumstances.