Stephen Magnusson
14 Little Creatures
(ABC Jazz/Universal)
Rating: ****
These 14 creatures are highly individual solo guitar performances, ten of which were composed by Melbourne guitarist Stephen Magnusson.
Using a nylon strung instrument Magnusson creates a world of personal reveries, sometimes reminiscent of Ralph Towner, to whom one of these tracks is dedicated. The range of guitar tonal qualities is widely explored: muted strings, harmonics, altered dynamics, and much more are superbly captured.
Cape Fear, a sixties movie theme is newly arranged for guitar and works particularly well with its spaced, chiming chords building a mysterious suspense.
A fast running riff underscores stabbing chords and punctuated figures in Away, while the longest cut, Dark Havens lays down an eerie, out of tempo, organ-like matrix, against which enigmatic themes emerge.
Black Hole Sun is from a Soundgarden album, included because the artist likes the idea of a solo guitar version of a heavy rock song.
Listening to this album is like having Magnusson in your lounge room to play an intimate, unique solo concert on acoustic guitar.
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This review first appeared in The Weekend Australian and is republished in full with permission of the author.
