Late to the Party – reviews of older music that you may not have heard.
Classical Spanish guitar – Dios mío! Is there a sound more evocative, brooding and seductive as the plucking of a Spanish guitarist? I can categorically say there isn’t. Of all the genres throughout time, Spanish guitar has retained a singular sound, full of warmth, passion, musicianship and heritage. Artists who perform in this space need to approach it with great reverence and respect – guitarist Brian Kingsland is one such musician, with his album, Translation.
Translation is a selection of some of Kingsland’s favourite pieces by Spanish composers, performed solo on acoustic guitar. From the opening track, “Capricho Arabe”, (originally composed by Francisco Tárrega in 1892), Kingsland declares his intentions for this album and showcases his abilities as a guitarist and musician. His performance is delivered with emotion and gusto, instantly transporting listeners to sun-drenched Andalusian villages or the Basilicas of Barcelona.
As a guitarist, Kingsland understands the importance of light and shade in classical music, in order to create narrative and pacing. He does this throughout the album, shifting from heavy bravado to reserved and introspective as needed. The result is a performance that is conversational and intimate.
This conversational delivery is important when the album is an interpretation of existing compositions. Within his performance, Kingsland is saying,
I really love this piece of music, and this is what I want to say with it.
This is amplified, ironically, by the fact that it’s an acoustic solo performance. Kingsland stands alone, hiding behind no-one and no production, giving nothing but himself and his translation of each piece. These tracks aren’t shiny – they are textured. You can hear the physicality and mechanical nature of acoustic playing. Hands slide up and down the guitar, whilst fingers, not plectrums, pluck with rhythm and energy, bringing the tactility and texture of Spain to the performance.
I hesitate to call out any specific tracks, but rather encourage you to take a moment to experience the whole conversation with Kingsland. This is intimate musical storytelling with a technically and emotionally talented musician.
Late to the Party – reviews of older music that you may not have heard.
Album artwork by Dan Vadim Von
