STEPHAN THELEN — Fractal Guitar 2 Remixes (review)

STEPHAN THELEN — Fractal Guitar 2 Remixes album cover Album · 2021 · Nu Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
js
“Fractal Guitar 2 Remixes” is the third installment in Stephan Thelan’s ongoing fractal guitar series, and as you can tell from the title, these are re-mixes of some of the tracks from the second album. The re-mixes have altered the originals so much, its hardly worth comparing them to the previous album, instead, its best to look at this re-mix album as an album that stands on its own with only a passing relationship to “Fractal Guitar 2”. Once again, Thelan presents groove oriented music in a electronica flavored nu jazz format, with plenty of all-star guitar heroes on hand to add soaring psychedelic solos and funky rhythm riffs. Some well known re-mixers are on hand too, including Bill Laswell and Jah Wobble. Overall though, this time around the emphasis is a little less on the guitar solos, and a little more on the creative arrangements of the re-mixers.

“Point of Inflection” is given three different remixes, with David Torrn’s version featuring hyper drumnbass rhythms and snarling processed guitar solos. The Stephan Thelan version is heavy in an almost industrial rock vibe, while the Laswell version is the most ambitious on the album with its multi-sectioned suite like arrangement and big cinematic sound. Bill has mastered the art of making his bass sound bigger than an orchestra. Elsewhere on this album, Jah Wobble’s mix on “Ladder to the Stars” features African styled interlocking guitar figures and Stephan Thelan’s Celestial Navigation has a hypnotic three beat groove topped with Frippian e-bow guitar solos. Barry Cleveland’s “Mercury Transit” features some very funky Alphonso Johnson styled bass work from Michael Manring, plus more e-bow guitar solos from Thelan.

This album is beautifully recorded and produced and features plenty of kaleidoscope electronic textures and soundscapes. “Fractal Guitar Remixes 2” is highly recommended for fans of artists like Terje Rypdal, Ozric Tentacles and Steve Hillage.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Mikolaj Trzaska, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, Paal Nilssen-Love : The Last Temple vol.3 Avant-Garde Jazz
MIKOŁAJ TRZASKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Mikolaj Trzaska, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, Paal Nilssen-Love : The Last Temple, Vol.1 Avant-Garde Jazz
MIKOŁAJ TRZASKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Mikołaj Trzaska / Ingebrigt Håker Flaten / Paal Nilssen-Love : The Last Temple Vol.2 Avant-Garde Jazz
MIKOŁAJ TRZASKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Sustain Avant-Garde Jazz
AALY TRIO
Buy this album from MMA partners
Sunset Park Post Bop
TOBIAS MEINHART
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

FASCINATING RHYTHM - The Amazing Keystone Big Band feat. Neima Naouri
THE AMAZING KEYSTONE BIG BAND
snobb· 1 day ago
Alicante
RENAUD GARCIA-FONS
js· 1 day ago
She's Forty with Me
WILTON CRAWLEY
js· 1 day ago
Tall Tillie's Too Tight
WILTON CRAWLEY
js· 1 day ago
Rhoda Scott Ladies and Gentlemen - special guest : David Linx
RHODA SCOTT
snobb· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed