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Fiery Instrumental Rock Fueled By Latin Beats
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What did you do the summer after you graduated from high school? Take a trip? Waste time? Work bagging groceries at Food Lion? Well, guitarist Forrest Kyle took the summer of 2000 to release his first instrumental guitar CD, The Adventures Of Guitar Man. Recorded just about four years after Kyle picked up the instrument, the CD displays a remarkably developed and mature style in the context of heavy rock guitar. The tunes on the CD were recorded in his bedroom on a digital 4-track recorder. Kyle wrote each piece and played every instrument, then later went to a studio for mixing and additional guitar work. Even though the songs are built around a drum machine, the fiery playing ("...the passion of Santana, the fire of Van Halen...") and Kyle's attention to dynamics makes the CD a great listen. Allowing for the circumstances under which it was recorded, we're just short of stunned!
Forrest bought his first guitar on his 14th birthday. When he was 16, he discovered Eddie Van Halen, who not only inspired his guitaristic forays, but taught him that when you want something in life, you go after it with everything you've got, doing the one thing that makes you who you are. Tracks such as "Nerd Gods" contain a few Van Halen musical 'quotes', presumably as a tribute to his inspiration. Forrest loves playing guitar more than anything else right now.
Kyle is currently working on the collection of songs for his second CD, but warns his fans not to hold their breath waiting for it. "Let's buy a thousand of the first one first!"
Contact Information
Forrest Kyle
1400 S. 12th St.
Mt. Vernon, WA 98274
United States
E-mail:
Forrest Kyle
Web site:
www.forrestkyle.com
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An Acoustically Brilliant New Beginning
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Now for some truly beautiful, yet challenging music. Emanations features the musical alchemy of Canadian Lyall Steel, who takes a foundation in classical, flamenco and folk music disciplines and composes a musical hybrid for classical guitar. Even though this is Steel's second album, it has been a long twenty years (yes, twenty) since his first recording. He opens the CD, appropriately enough, with a twenty-year-old piece, "Spanish Breeze", then follows with newer compositions which display technical mastery, sensitivity and a passion for the emotional side of guitar playing. Emanations features nine originals in all, and anyone alive who loves acoustic guitar music needs to hear Steel's work - it's quite engaging and can be listened to in a variety of settings. There's enough depth to challenge a serious listener, and enough melody to brighten up the atmosphere when you're doing something else. Tough to pull off, but Steel succeeds.
Lyall started playing guitar in his early teens in the '60s, playing tunes from the Ventures, Fireballs, Shadows, Duane Eddy and others. His next advancement was Travis picking, and later he became attracted to flamenco and classical guitar for their very serious use of the right hand fingers. Lyall then traveled to Spain, began composing (with the ardent support of Maestro Manuel Cano) and returned to record and self-release an LP which sold a couple thousand copies. Even though he allowed 20 years to pass before recording again, he always continued to play guitar and compose music.
Steel feels more recognition for his work and financial success would be nice, but that it is fundamentally about something greater -- finding his own voice through his own material. We agree.
Contact Information
Lyall Steel
11937 - 88 Street
Edmonton, AB T5B 3S2
Canada
E-mail:
Lyall Steel
Web site:
www.indiepool.com/lyallsteel/
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Vol. 17, No. 2: Feb.-Mar. 2012
