FRACTAL GUITAR 2

Swiss guitarist Stephan Thelen has a strong reputation for releasing uncompromising and interesting music, and the latest Fractal Guitar album demonstrates that clearly. Recorded in lockdown, each of the pieces started with Stephan constructing a delay in a weird time signature, building around that, and then sending it off to another guitarist to see what they made of it and what they could add to it. These guitarists, Markus Reuter, David Torn, Jon Durant, Barry Cleveland and Bill Walker would then record their response, and then it would be sent to the next. This resulted in a series of lengthy pieces which often features all the guitarists working in their own style using different types of guitar and effects, to which were later added keyboards, drums, percussion and bass.

Although the album was constructed in a somewhat insular manner, with everyone separate, that does not sonically sound to be the case as it comes across as all musicians working together and not remotely. It seems strange that drums and bass were the last to be added as they have an incredibly important part to play, providing the cut through which is required so that the listener does not become overwhelmed by the guitars. With touch guitars being utilised, sounds are often being produced which are more reminiscent of keyboards, which in turn often are set to be more like an organ to differentiate the sound.

It is a very thick and layered recording, with little space and all guitars being somewhat on top of each other, creating a somewhat dense approach and it is only the rhythm section which contains the lightness to lift the overall sound. I am a huge fan of some of those involved, especially Markus Reuter, yet I think this may have come across better if there were less guitarists and space was allowed to play a much larger part. Undoubtedly clever, there are times when this feels like the soul has been somewhat squeezed out of it.

4.5 stars. On November 2, 2019 Stephan Thelen along with Henry Kaiser, Chris Muir and Andy West met at a studio in Oakland, California recording some tracks and by the time they all went home the World was a very different place with the Covid. So this album has been quite the adventure with it being done during lockdown over the internet. Thelen specifically thanks Jon Durant, Barry Cleveland, Andi Pupato and Markus Reuter in the liner notes but also a special thanks to Tim Motzer, Bill Laswell and Michael Manring who were part of these recordings but not on this main album, however they are on a remixed album they did that is on Bandcamp.

Yes David Torn is here along with Bill Walker, Manuel Pasquinelli and more. These have become my new heroes, in fact I'm finding a lot of this type of music with solo projects from these musicians along with other side projects they are on. And this isn't Math Rock which I'm luke warm on although I have some favourites, this is so much more than that. Some new types of guitars in play with these guys as usual like sliced and filtered cloud guitar from Jon Durant. Of course Barry Cleveland with his bowed guitar, chopped guitar and fuzz orchestration. How about Thelen adding granular synths, choppy organ, e-bow, particles and programming and yes lots of guitars.

Six long tracks at just under 74 minutes this is a ride. I love that in the liner notes they have the lineup for each track which involves 7 to 9 talented musicians. Pretty much two drummers, a bass player and sometimes a keyboardist but always many guitarists including Touch guitars, looping, soundscapes and on and on. Music with intelligence. I just get lost in all these sounds. And how about the title on the opener "Cosmic Krautrock", you know I'm so impressed with many musicians today who have gone outside of their own sub-genres to be fans like us of the many styles of music there is out there.

A very consistent album this is with each track bringing something new to the table. The opener and closer are my top two though and coincidently Torn is on those two tracks only, and I do prefer the first "Fractal Guitar" album to this one but this is a nice companion album to keep together with my SONAR records with David Torn participating. Rounding down here but this is a keeper and a unique piece of music in Stephan Thelen's discography given the way it was recorded during lockdown.