INSTRUMENTAL inquisition!
GT: What is so appealing to you about instrumentals?
Geoff: I was always fascinated with the raw power and energy of an electric guitar, pumped up loud through a tube amp, in that it’s so primal and emotional. It’s a perfect instrument to be featured as a melodic and rhythmic centre of a well composed and produced song. But to be honest, I don’t especially care for most guitar instrumental music. There are some amazing players in the world today, but the flashy, technique-first style of many of them I find tedious, like watching someone do the same card trick again and again. I prefer a great player, combined with composition-first types of albums like Jeff Beck, Satriani, Steve Morse, Django Reinhardt, or the old albums from Bill Bruford featuring Allan Holdsworth. Give me a great song first, and then let the guitar shine on top of it.
GT: What can an instrumental provide that a vocal song can’t?
Geoff: Just try to sweep-pick with your voice! Ha-ha. Different styles and different instruments can achieve vast, emotionally expressive music. But like ballet and kick-boxing, both have a specific purpose and probably don’t need to be compared. With
