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Gordon Giltrap - Visionary CD (album) cover

VISIONARY

Gordon Giltrap

 

Prog Related

3.63 | 37 ratings

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apps79
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
3 stars A self-taught English guitarist and composer, Gordon Giltrap was born in 1948 in Brenchley, Kent and begun playing the guitar at the age of 12, eventually developing a tchnique and style of his own.Already as a teenager Giltrap had the chance to share the same stage with Bert Jansch, John Renbourn and Mike Oldfield, performing in a Classic British Folk style with his guitar.Between 1968 and 1973 he released four Folk/acoustic guitar albums, but in the mid- 70's he presented a more adventurous and artistic style, as shown on his fifth personal album ''Visionary'', a work inspired by the words of poet William Blake and released in 1976 originally on Electric Record Company, a sublabel of Chrysalis.The same album was later re-issued by Voicepring with three bonus tracks.

The album is split in 11 acoustic and electric pieces, composed by Giltrap and performed along with Canterbury bassist John G Perry, session drummer Simon Phillips and keyboardist Rob Edwards.His folk influences are now narrowly limited to some short acoustic instrumentals with some background piano with the majority of the album unfolding based on Giltrap's smooth guitar playing and the dominant orchestral arrangements of Rob Edwards.''Visionary'' is quite easy-listening for the most of its part, offering a generally grandiose atmosphere delivered by the fascinating guitar chords of Giltrap, surrounded by the piano, synthesizers and string sections of Edwards and various guest musicians, featuring also some horn paassages.The overall atmosphere is close to some of MIKE OLDFIELD's efforts in an orchestral/symphonic style, trully artistic approach with some nice harmonic parts.A few parts with synth, piano and electric guitars on their maximum collaboration are closer to Classic Prog with good interplays and some dynamic breaks, but overall ''Visionary'' is what Art Rock is all about, smooth compositions with a diversity in sound and styles.

A good first effort by Giltrap in the field of artistic Rock music with a couple of great instrumental sections to be found and a delicate orchestral mood throughout.Warmly recommended, even more if you are fan close to the likes of MIKE OLDFIELD.

apps79 | 3/5 |

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