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Misterio (Al Di Meola ‘The Grande Passion’)

Misterio is awe-inspiring. Al Di is awe-inspiring. He seems so rejuvenated with such incredible inspiration at this point in his career. Double Concerto, Al’s interpretation of the Astor Piazzolla composition is absolutely astonishing and quite possibly the most expressive thing I’ve ever heard in my life. The way that piece builds is head-shakingly good, a lesson in composition to say the least.

For me, this was the album where Al Di launched himself out into orbit and into music heaven. I’d never heard anything quite as special as The Grande Passion. Sometimes an album is so good you can only sit down and weep. Trust me, this is one of those albums. There simply isn’t much music on the planet as good as this. The good news is… there’s more of it to come.

Welcome to Shivers-ville, grab a tissue.

The ConstruKction of Light (King Crimson ‘The ConstruKction of Light’)

Have I ever mentioned I saw KC on this tour? I have? More than once, you’re kidding? I was fortunate enough to pretty much over Robert Fripp’s shoulder in Madrid and the whole experience just left me totally awe-struck. To understand how far from greatness and mastery you are you have to see and experience it first hand. Whilst most folks were watching Pat Mastelotto on the rather unique at the time V-Drums I was captivated by Fripp and Belew. Without question the two best guitarists I’ve ever seen first hand. The expectation and tension these guys play under is absolutely immense and they hardly fail to deliver.

You’ll see Belew shake his head at something Fripp’s just done that is mind-blowing. Later Robert will crack a smile at one of Adrian’s amazing solos. I remember there was an astonishing bend and whammy thing that was so obviously a spur of the moment thing. It was a once in a lifetime moment and the whole place just erupted with appreciation.

It was at that moment I thought “I can simply not practice enough to be that good so I’m just gonna enjoy this instead of fretting about my own playing”. I’ve never fretted since. Apart from all my left hand fretting. That’s not the same thing.

TCoL is one of my fave guitar instrumentals. I went totally nuts watching these guys pull it off flawlessly with so much ease. This is my clean sound… I adore this sound.

Larks’ Tongues in Aspic Pt. 4 (King Crimson ‘The ConstruKction of Light’)

Erm… where to start with this track? There is so much guitar to talk about in Larks 4! Well, firstly, on record it doesn’t quite come across as it does live. The overwhelming battering you get from a live performance really is something special.

The expectation as chapter 2 of Larks 4 approached was unbevievable. I think the whole audience was sweating thinking “surely they can’t do those stabs… surely not”. But sure enough… stabs were fine and somehow… and I have no idea how… Robert’s fingers flew all over the neck and hit every single impossible note in those runs. You could almost hear jaws hitting the floor. The floor got slippy with drool. It was the most spectacular thing I have witnessed in music. As if that wasn’t astonishing enough it’s Adrian’s turn. And if I could solo like this just once in my life I would give it all up with a happy smile on my face! Next day I checked Robert’s online diary. Turns out the boys thought they’d had an off night!

Gods do walk this Earth…and I’ve been fortunate enough to share a moment of my life in their greatness. Oh yes, I do love these guys. You gotta have a hero right?

Pink Maggit (Deftones ‘White Pony’)

My favourite metal album of the noughties and one of my favourites ever recorded. It’s crammed full with some incredible riffs. I think the whole record is in Drop C tuning and it just gives it all such a unique character. I like that. Very clever stuff from Steph Carpenter to use unique tunings on each Deftones album.

I had a real hard time trying to single out anything from White Pony because I love every single second. I’m still listening to it day after day after day after day and I never tire of it. When I first got the record it was the last two tracks that totally blew me away, leaving me stunned. So that swayed my choice.

Change (In the House of Flies) is quite possibly my fave song of all time. However it’s the riff in Maggit that I would say defines this entire album. It’s one heck of a stunning moody riff. From the opening echoing broken arps to the massive main riff I adore this. I so wish it could have been me in this band!

The Hollow (A Perfect Circle ‘Mer De Noms’)

Where did this album come from?! Such a brilliant album from a super talented bunch. I love ring modulators so The Hollow got the pick but maybe Magdalena is my fave song of the record. Nice to hear this tuning too, always one of my faves.

I am so excited about this 5 for the Weekend. Anyone that said “there just isn’t any good music anymore” back in the early noughties must have had their ears sewn shut; there were so many great albums in 2000 alone. Crimson wholeheartedly deserve two entries and truthfully Di Meola, KC and Deftones could have easily filled a 20 for the Weekend feature.

This is soooooo 80s… “ENJOY!”
:o)

Paul.

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