UNITED GUITARS: Vol. 3 (ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

One per year. This is what Ludovic Egraz announced when he launched the project. And he sticks to it, amply helped by the fans who answer present since the beginning during the annual participative financing. So here is "Volume 3" of United Guitars, filled to the brim with instrumental tracks and technical prowess centered on the electric guitar. "Always more" could even be the subtitle of this new delivery. Judge for yourself: 120 minutes of music, 34 guitarists, against 30 on "Volume 2" and 27 on "Volume 1", and 13 new contributors recruited from the bubbling pool of French six-string talents.

If the enterprise deserves respect, it shows however some signs of breathlessness which have nothing to do with the quality of its actors (all impeccable) but rather with a certain overflow which sometimes leaves the listener on the way, at the risk of making him miss the essential. The essential is the unconditional love that the editor of Guitar Xtreme has for the guitar, which he has made it his mission to bring back to the forefront and to the center of rock music. And it is clear that all the guitarists present on this "Volume 3" are doing everything possible to support him in this task.

Almost all styles are represented, from blues ('How Strong Is Your Shield' by Saturax with Popa Chubby as a guest) to metal ('Surrounded By Darkness'), passing by jazz fusion ('D-Tox') and even reggae ('Streggae Dance' by Jean-Marie Ecay). From a technical point of view, the level is, as it should be, very high and some shredders stand out by their speed of execution, notably Neogeofanatic on '55', Guillaume Rabut-Lanes on 'From Kyoto To Tokyo' or Florian Merindol, the guitarist of Disconnected, on 'Another Dune'.

However, at the end, we have to ask ourselves the question: what do we retain from this new album of United Guitars? The answer is, as often, to be found in the most original and melodic tracks. For the originality, the prize goes to Swan Vaude and Rockloé and their track 'Somethin' Blue', a real little modern and jazzy nugget on a very trendy hip hop rhythm. Enough to give hope to all the guitar lovers about its use in the current music.

As for the really melodic pieces, they are unfortunately too few to allow to listen to this "Volume 3" in one go without giving up, even for the most initiated. To note however the excellent 'Someone's Gone' by Fabrice Dutour, 'Burning Zone' by Julien Lacharme and especially 'High Wire' by the immense Youri De Groote.

Is a melodic effort in the compositions planned in the future? We'll know it next year with "Volume 4" of United Guitars. In the meantime, and despite some reservations, we must continue to support this crazy project because it is well worth it. - Official website

UNITED GUITARS

VOL. 3

AUTRE LABEL

ROCK