Edward Box
Moonfudge Lion Music
by Matthew Hoffman
Staff Writer
 |
Comments: Really good spirited instrumental Rock n’ Roll lead guitar from start to finish! That’s the perfect way to categorize the new CD release from Edward Box entitled Moonfudge, out now on Lion Music. This is Edward’s follow up to 2003’s instrumental guitar release Plectrumhead. Inspired by Van Halen and the power of Judas Priest, Edward picked up his first guitar at age 14. He later was motivated by the excellent styles of George Lynch, Demartini and Shenker. His playing is probably more of a mix of Lynch’s metal work with Dokken combined with Van Halen’s early sound. Quite lofty praise but it is accurate.
The fun thing of this album is that each and everyone that purchases it will hear all the influences and try to identify them as Box blends them miraculously together. Most of the playing is masterful and clean but folks this is not a “masturbation guitar solo,” album as Andreas Kisser refers to shred releases. It is simply an album that sounds like an ‘80s metal band’s lead guitarist performing an emotional clean instrumental release. The songs are very diverse, spanning the world of rock, soulful rock, heavy metal, near shred and even love songs. This diversity reminds you of the movie Crossroads where a young Steve Vai plays every style imaginable in his role as the Devil vs. Ralph Machio’s benevolent character. The best songs on his album are actually when the pace slows down a bit and you see the North Eastern English guitar teacher show his emotional side.
The second track “Welcome to the Grindhouse” is a good example of this as Box rips an almost Satriani 1988 type groove with just slightly heavier tones. Another key track is the electric/acoustic ditty “Hourglass” where single soft notes meet a high pitched sustained electric vibe that is sure to make you think of a day when you were younger, stronger and more carefree. Box also plays heavy, fast and hard at times but he always keeps within the confines of the specific songs structure.
All
in all this is a super cool journey from the other side of the Ocean,
where Mr. Ed accomplishes a lot while never straying far from the core
“fun” of the guitar, the whole 43-minute ride.
Track
listing:
1. Jack in the Box
2. Welcome to the Grindhouse
3. Axis of Evil
4. Hourglass
5. Stanton's Stomp
6. Trailblazer
7. Downstream
8. Pasadena
9. Reverse the Polarity
10. Big Screen Love Theme
HRH
Rating: 8/10
Advertisements:
