Songs Without Words
Tone Work Records (2019)
While Gerhard Daum's Songs Without Words came out in 2019, I never got around to reviewing it here at Wind and Wire and that was an injustice to the artist on my part. This would certainly have placed in my top five releases of that year, In addition, this is one of the most unique guitar-based instrumental albums I have ever heard, and that covers a lot of review submissions. I know an album that the artist himself describes as "…[demonstrating} the electric guitar's eloquence and diversity as a powerful lead instrument in modern times." may not be perceived as all that impressive from those words but trust me. This is as revelatory an album as I have heard in my career.
The brilliance of Songs Without Words hangs on not just on Daum's manifold guitar talents, but also his more than impressive expertise with orchestral arrangements as backing for these twelve electric guitar pieces. I would often think to myself, "Oooh, this would be the perfect music for a movie scene where…." because so much of the music is immensely visual (if one has an imagination, that is). As it unwinds, the more creative mind might imagine everything from espionage thrillers with drives through majestic landscapes to hard-boiled detective stories to tales of lonely people wandering the streets in search of love in an uncaring city. Granted, my imagination is likely more centered around movies than your average music fan, but that's how this album hit me. On the other hand, if you explore Daum's website, he is best known for scoring films and TV, so the notion that I alone perceive this album to be cinematic in nature would seem to be moronic. This man knows how to compose music set to visuals, obviously.
I reviewed one of Daum's earlier albums, Rural Renewal, which impressed me, but when I first played Songs Without Words, I found it hard to believe it was the same artist. Not because Rural Renewal wasn't a good album, as it was. But Songs Without Words is a masterpiece in a genre that is, for me, underrepresented in instrumental music, i.e. electric guitar instrumentals. For me, this recording is as groundbreaking and impressive as Craig Chaquico's Acoustic Highway was when it was released. If you have followed music as I have, you remember Chaquico's debut was a massive success, both commercially and critically.
The first track, “Berlin Song,” hints at what’s to come, with its mournful strings backing a stinging bluesy lead line on top of a slow tempo bass beat. At about one minute, you’ll get a taste of Daum’s mastery of the orchestral strings, deftly making them the centerpiece and then relegated to the background. “Talking Softly” opens, as the title suggests, in a subdued style, while a funky (subtly so) rhythm and low-key strings flow underneath (nice use of keyboard vibraphones here, too).
Understand that Daum can also cut loose and unfurl one hot lick after another so not every track is an example of restraint, but unlike some guitarists who go out of their way to wave their talent in your face, Daum always has a purpose when he dials the explosiveness to 11. And, on “Timeless,” he veers into a great George Benson-esque blues/jazz vein, backed by a killer percussion beat and sensual strings. “Told You So” is my favorite track with its playful mood, percolating beat, and strings that just can’t help but bring a smile to my face every single time.
My sincerest apologies to the artist for not reviewing this fantastic album until now, but I simply had to inform folks about how brilliant this recording is. You love electric guitar music? You simply must check this out.
CREDITS
Music composed,
performed, and orchestrated by Gerard Daum
Mixed and
mastered at GDME Studios, Berlin
Artwork by MCD
All Midi tracks
arranged and recorded by Gerhard Daum
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