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.
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