This one arrived recently in the post unexpectedly from Nick. Another of the burgeoning Bad Dog Promotions promoted releases which regularly find their way to me.
Not being familiar with Nick’s work, I discovered from his web site that he’s a fellow “dee dar.” If you don’t know what a “dee dar” is……look it up.
He’s been playing for years, a regular in the John (brother of Steve) Hackett Band, has releasesd solo albums with this one – An Unfolding of Miracles – being the sixth.
The booklet notes that it is “a suite in nine parts inspired by the writing of Carl Gustav Jung” and is a “piece of storytelling and has a cinematic feel as the story of the empathic soul is told through music.”
Now, that could sound a bit somewhat pretentious and I’ve never read any Jung. Would that have any detriment on enjoying the album I wondered.
On first listen – I wasn’t convinced. Nick sure can play guitar. The musicians joining him are very skilled though the jazzy/fusion style isn’t one which has done much for me over the years.
Though albums cannot be judged on first listens and I’ve always been the kind of bloke who gives everything a good few spins to give albums a fair crack of the whip so I can take an objective view, er, I mean listen.
After those good fed spins, An Unfolding of Miracles has grown on me and I feel it’s an interesting listen.
The progressive/jazz/fusion style here is scopey and varied. Nick’s guitar really is superb. Fluid and intricate with plenty of feel to it.
Here and there he slips in to almost heavy prog-metal territory switching to chunky, powerful riffing and shredding backed up by the precise bass and busy drums – Unravelling of Illusions for example.
The Path of Fire has some bite and stuff such as To Bee Seen, To Be Heard is an enjoyable six and a half minutes of free-flowing proggy jazz which I found oddly relaxing.
Whilst this style of music is not “my bag”, the musicianship is classy as is Nick’s guitar playing. Clearly a talented bloke.
If you do like your jazz/fusion, An Unfolding of Miracles is one you’ll be wanting to check out.
Buy directly from Nick’s web site:
https://www.nickfletcherguitarmusic.com
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