Matt Stevens’ Extraordinary Array of Electric Guitar Sounds

Matt Stevens - Lucid
Matt Stevens – Lucid
Matt Stevens

Lucid (Esoteric Antenna, 2014)

English guitarist Matt Stevens delivers a wide range of modern guitar styles in his latest solo album titled Lucid. You can find various musical genres that fall within the progressive rock umbrella, ranging from King Crimsonesque explorations to post rock, jazz-rock and ambient music.

Lucid is more about sound generation and atmosphere than demonstrating guitar proficiency. Matt Stevens employs post rock’s wall of sound as well as loops and effects, as well as vibrant solos. While Stevens’ sound gets very intensive at times, he also presents a gentler, calmer side. In fact, one of the best cuts on the album is the mesmerizing dreamlike piece titled ‘Coulrophobia.’

On Lucid, Matt Stevens features first class musicians, such as drummer Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson); bassists Lorenzo Feliciati (Naked Truth), Charlie Cawood (Knifeworld) and Kev Feazey; keyboard players Jem Godfrey (Frost) and Emmett Elvin (Chrome Hoof / Guapo); violinist Chrissie Caulfield (Helicopter Quartet / Crippled Black Phoenix); vibraphonist Jon Hart; and Nicholas Wyatt Duke (Trojan Horse) on spoken word.

Lucid took three years as I really wanted to make this one a significant step up from the previous albums,” says Matt Stevens. “It’s inspired by a bit of a dark time, but hopefully it’s an uplifting record. I’m so proud of the people who played on it, working with people like Pat Mastelotto on drums from King Crimson and Jem Godfrey from Frost was amazing but all the players really were outstanding. Stuart Marshall (Fierce And The Dead) and Charlie Cawood (Knifeworld) were the rhythm section for a lot of the tracks. And it was great to have Chrissie back who played violin on the previous records. It’s a record that reflects my love of Jesu and Celtic Frost as much as the Mahavishnu Orchestra and King Crimson or even Peter Gabriel and I’m really proud of it. If you’re not going to take risks and try and do something interesting what’s the point?

Purchase Lucid has an extraordinary array of electric and straightaway contemporary guitar sounds.

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