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""Child of Bliss" will not leave the listener unmoved, Nick Johnston having become the legitimate standard-bearer for emotional instrumental guitar."
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5/5
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The most common criticism levelled at guitar heroes is that they put technique before emotion. Nick Johnston is one of those guitarists with whom this doesn't work, the Canadian being one of those musicians for whom the emotion transmitted is the keystone of his work. If a piece doesn't immediately give him goose bumps, it's straight into the garbage can. As you can see, with him it's all or nothing. There's no question of impressing anyone, we're talking about authenticity here. With Nick Johnston, the question of the role of music in our lives is posed quite clearly. Should music a) fill the void, b) be entertaining, c) be demonstrative, or d) literally sweep us off our feet? For him, no doubt, it's answer 'd'.
The least we can say is that the Canadian artist is consistent with what drives him, his music being of abysmal depth and his notes finding their target with every shot. Indeed, it's hard to come away from listening to "Child of Bliss" unscathed, so moving are the moods and harmonies on offer. Nick Johnston has all the means to show off, his technical baggage being simply breathtaking. But he's not interested.
In Nick Johnston's music, the reminiscences of Joe Satriani are quite obvious, to the point where you almost think you're listening to Satriani compositions ('Through the Golden Forest', 'Himari', or 'Memento Vivere'). To criticize an instrumental guitarist for being influenced by such a genius would be reprehensible if the artist were offering us a pale copy of the original. But here, the influence is transcended. In Nick Johnston's case, the gamble has paid off, with the musician drawing on his personal tastes to nourish his own music, and the result is stunning.
It's new, it's clean, and it moves to tears. Let's hope that Nick Johnston's work is well received, even if that doesn't seem to be the artist's priority, his aim being first and foremost to be real. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Black Widow Silk
02. hild Of Bliss
03. Through The Golden Forest
04. Moonflower
05. Himawari
06. Memento Vivere
07. Little. Thorn
08. Voice On The Wind
LINEUP:
Nick Johnston: Chant / Guitares
Thomas Lang : Batterie / Invité
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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(0) COMMENT(S)
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READERS
3.3/5 (3 view(s))
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STAFF:
4.5/5 (2 view(s))
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OTHER REVIEWS
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