Healing Hands

This doesn't sound scary, but it's about something that is....

One of my better guitar solos starting at about 3.17 (Strat - out of phase between middle and neck pickups + Fender SuperChamp)

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posted by MajorDundee (7 comments total)

This is really great... I think I'm always impressed at how well-thought-out your arrangements tend to be. Just the right bits in just the right spots. Your voice sounds great here, too, and yep, that's a pretty tasty solo.
posted by uncleozzy at 6:45 AM on October 17, 2009

Nice! This brings me back to when I used to listen to a lot of that Alan Parsons 80s stuff. The chord progressions are great, and the arrangement is really tasteful and really restrained. Tasty guitar tone, too. Great solo!
posted by CarrotAdventure at 12:06 PM on October 17, 2009

...but not that great to favourite it huh :-) Thanks guys. This was recorded in 2006/7. I think it's got a bit too much of an '80's vibe with the synth bass etc - there's also a slightly "bolted together" inorganic feel that I'm not overly enamoured of. But, as usual, I can't be arsed to re-record it. Water under the bridge and all that!
posted by MajorDundee at 3:14 PM on October 17, 2009

Hey MD - very cool. Reminds me of David Sylvian's solo stuff, esp very early - Brilliant Trees, etc., as well as some of the stuff he did with Fripp (although your solo restricts itself to one fairly normal key and, as we all know, that aint Fripp's bag).

Given that we are in the middle of an early 80s revival - Editors, White Lies, Muse's new one and 1,000 no-name synth pop bands - I reckon you only have to wait another 2-3 years and this will be current again!

p.s. I like the inorganic bolted together bit. Prog-pop!
posted by the_very_hungry_caterpillar at 5:18 AM on October 18, 2009

Thanks tvhc - it's strange you mention Editors etc. I heard some of their new album and was slightly disturbed at how close it is sonically to some of the material I've been writing/recording. If I was 20 years younger I'd be tempted to think my time had come at last. But........sadly........too late, too late......

The Sylvian connection is pretty left-field. This sounds to me to be way too poppy and straight for him (and I'm very familiar with Brilliant Trees, Secrets Of The Beehive, Gone To Earth etc). I've not heard much Fripp and what I have heard I haven't liked much - too much clever-clever noodling and not much real melodic substance or feel. The only King Crimson albums I like are the ones which Adrian Belew contributed to (with his usual inventiveness and panache).
posted by MajorDundee at 3:10 PM on October 18, 2009

MD - I was thinking as much about the sounds as the song-writing - the glassy electric guitar, synth bass, etc. - bit it definitely has a touch of that early Sylvian sound - and, in parts, your voice as well. Really well put together and I like the BVs!

If you haven't checked out the Sylvian/Fripp stuff I would recommend The First Day (1993) - I was fortunate enough to see them at the Royal Albert Hall - fantastic gig.
posted by the_very_hungry_caterpillar at 3:58 PM on October 18, 2009

BVs? Wha?? Actually I owe you an apology tvhc - my comments re Fripp were rather dismissive and perhaps a little offensive. I'll check out the link you've kindly given and approach with open ears.
posted by MajorDundee at 2:26 AM on October 19, 2009