Longing for the day ...

New Music I've discovered

For my birthday a short while ago I was given a copy of Preston Reed's Handwritten Notes. It's an interesting album with some really cool stuff, but ... sigh ... I just find it hard to get into this solo acoustic guitar music. I feel the same way about Kaki King, who I saw live at the Brisbane Powerhouse a while ago - she had some electronics and some digital gadgetry to play with as well ... and she sang. Their stuff is interesting and very technical - really great playing - but it doesn't grab my soul and make me go "wow!"

One guy who does, though, is Andy McKee. His playing is similarly technical, innovative and so on - but he infuses great melodies and harmonic hooks with his technique. His Art of Motion album is my favourite in this style. It combines great, innovative technique with a real melodic flair and intense performances. Love it (though Andy's not nearly as good-looking as Kaki or, if you like that sort of thing, Preston)!

And before you Preston Reed and Kaki King fans get all sarcastic at me - of course I wish I could play like these guys. I probably wouldn't do it very often, but I wish I could ...