|
Big Bang Magazine
1998
Still unknown a few weeks ago, Scott McGill is certainly going to cause a lot of talk. Especially in as much as he is guitarist for Finneus Gauge, the new group by the ex-keyboardist of Echolyn, Chris Buzby, who has just brought out his first album, More Once More, where one can have large glimpses of his talent. And for those who wish to deepen their knowledge of this guy, there is a solo album, The Hand Farm, recently out from Mellow Records.
Let's underscore that these eleven compositions (from 2:12 to 6:56) address themselves primarily to lovers of the guitar: totally instrumental, they are played by a trio, McGill being accompanied by bassist Kevin Woolsten (replaced for certain titles by Matt Cantwell) and a drummer, Anthony DiSimone. No singer, no keyboardist: our virtuoso has elbow room. However, The Hand Farm, is not a theater for somber masturbatory penchants, and Scott McGill takes care to put the emphasis on form. The influence of Allan Holdsworth is here more present that with Finneus Gauge. McGill cites equally the influences of Jimi Hendrix. Pat Marino, and John McLaughlin. At times heavy, jazzy, or more intimate, the pieces exploit a rather extended range of registers which permits the three musicians to break the restraints of the "power trio" style, too often a pretext for pretense and bluster. Here is something that will enchant amateurs of the despotic but intelligent guitar!
|
