BOING Music

Albums-

Guthrie lets rip live with lordly chums Aholy trinity of virtuosity, The Aristocrats are Guthrie Govan on guitar, Bryan Beller (Dethklok) on bass and Marco

Minnemann (Steven Wilson, Joe Satriani) on drums. Genres are mashed, speed limits crashed and minds warped in a blizzard of ultra­chops. From the trad-jazz-on-speed of Louisville Stomp to the ribald rock of Sweaty Knockers, it's delivered with panache, wit and formidable technical prowess. Prepare to be awed. [JD]

TheAristocrats Culture Clash Live ****1

Ourpic of the finest fretwork committed to wax this month...

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Standout track: Louisville Stomp For fans of: Frank Zappa, Steve VaL Feodor Dosumov

DaveKilminster ...And The Truth Will Set You Free ****, Killer Guitar Records

Nuanced, virtuosic rock from a dazzling player Dave Kilminster is a former Guitarist Of The Year winner, who now plays with Roger Waters and Guthrie Govan among

others. This album reveals him to be a fine songvvriter, too, fusing sophisticated Steely Dan-style arrangements on tracks such as Thieves and Cassiopeia, with playing that is tasteful and dazzlingly deft. It adds up to an absorbing, intelligent album. [JD] Standouttrack: Thieves For fans of: Guthrie Govan, Steely Dan, Skunk Anansie

DanMangan+Blacksmitb ClubMeds ***** City Slang

Woozy grandeur from Vancouver folkie 'gone electric' Renowned in his native Canada as a solo acoustic troubadour, Club Meds sees Mangan step into afull band

with maturity and confidence. Amidst astormy seascape of acoustic and electric guitars, moody electronica and creative rhythms, Mangan's weather-worn vocals are the star. An unexpected gem. [CV] Standout track: Kitsch For fans of: Radlohead, The National, Elbow

BlackberrySmoke Holding All The Roses ***; Dixiefrog Records

Southern-fried country-rockers step up .1. For their fourth studio outing, Blackberry Smoke enlisted the services of Pearl Jam producer Brendan O·Brien. As a

result. HoldingAll The Roses feels like the band's tilt at the big time, with the kind of layered vocals, greasy gUitars and high-budget sound that didn't do The Black Crowes much harm in the 1990s. [CV] Standout track: Living In The Song For fans of: The Black Crowes, Aerosmith, Zac Brown Band

CarlCarlton LightsOutIn Wonderland ***'1 Caroline

Grizzled songcraft with tidy. tasteful fretwork If you haven't heard of him, German-born guitarist and producer Carl Carlton has worked with some greats over the

years, from Robert Palmer to Joe Cocker. Here. he's doing things on his own account. and the substantial, gritty songcraft throughout shows Carlton has class. From the Springsteen-esque Moonlight In New York

to the grizzled soul of Cool My Heat, it's enjoyable, tasteful and mature fare backed by tidy, effective playing that supports each song perfectly. [JD] Standout track: Moonlight In New York For fans of: Bruce Springsteen, Mark Knopfler, The Rolling Stones

TwoGallants WeAre Undone

[J **** ATO Records

San Franciscan duo make welcome return ,:'" Adam Stephens and Tyson Vogel have wowed audiences

for over adecade with their intense fusion of folk, rock and country-blues. Stephens' remarkable lyrics and intricate fingerpicking are still the band's trump cards, and album five sees them blend the raw indie-rock of 2012's The BloomAnd The Blight with the rootsy desolation of their earlier work. [CV] Standout track: Invitation To The Funeral For fans of: Neutral Milk Hotel. Mississippi John Hurt. Bright Eyes

MicbaelCassweD Complaints About The Noise ***1 Valley Cat

Instrumental flights of fusion from session ace • From the moment you open the album sleeve and see~. veteran session guitarist Michael Casswell posing beside a Klon and abeaten-up Strat. you have an idea what's on offer here! Throw MeA Bone kicks things off with a torrent of wah-scorched solos replete with trem gargle - it's accomplished, but we've been here before. We're in more intriguing territory with Slide Over Me and Force ofNature, with their Jeff Beck-esque lead lines, which are the high point of a spirited album of instrumental rock. [JD] Standout track: Slide Over Me For fans of: Jeff Beck, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai

ZunZunEgui Shackles'Gift **~ Bella Union

An original long-player with myriad influences Zun Zun Egui (the name is Basque for agroup of trees)

• were formed in Bristol in 2008 by Mauritian slnger/ gUitarist Kushal Gaya and Japanese keyboard player Yoshino Shigihara. Now a five-piece, the band fuse Tropicalia, punk-funk, Afrobeat. Ethio-jazz and no-wave into asound that's both very much their own and considerably more accessible than first impressions might suggest. In addition, there's inventive guitar woven throughout. [CV] Standout track: African Tree For fans of: Public Image Ltd, Fela Kuti, Battles