Imagine Many Guitars
Tim Brady; Instruments of Happiness; Bronwyn Thies-Thompson; Janelle Lucyk; Sarah Albu; Marie-Annick Beliveau
Redshift Records TK550 (redshiftmusicsociety.bandcamp.com/album/imagine-many-guitars)
Imagine Many Guitars is real; a well-thought out and brilliantly performed electric guitar recording by Montreal-based Tim Brady, who composed, played and recorded all the guitar lines, which he multi-tracks in the four compositions here.
The opening 25-minuteThis one is broken in pieces: Symphony #11 (2019-2024) is held together by Brady’s eight electric guitars (with effects pedals), and overdubbed sopranos Bronwyn Thies-Thompson, Janelle Lucyk, Sarah Albu and Marie-Annick Béliveau singing texts taken from the late Ian Ferrier’s book Coming & Going (2015). This very symphonic music with classical and contemporary overtones features guitar effect backdrops to guitar grooves alternating with vocals – suspenseful a cappella singing and moving spoken lines. Guitar strums and held notes add an echo effect to high sung notes.
Slow, Simple (2022) for 20 electric guitars is not really simple sonically but is easy-listening! The tempo is slow, with Brady’s low held chords opening and the guitars build as the chords slowing change with simultaneous descending lead lines, held notes, strumming, single note atonal lines and held note effects.
Five Times: four guitars (2022), a shorter five-movement change of pace, features a more open and playful style and a rocking lead guitar in Everywhere, and more atonal experimental lines resembling playing at home sounds in Alone.
The earlier four-part work (very) Short Pieces for (jazz) Guitar (1979) shows off a jazzier side of Brady’s playing with clean lines, rhythmic strums and accents.
Brady is amazing and inspirational throughout Imagine Many Guitars.
Listen to 'Imagine Many Guitars' Now in the Listening Room
