Tomsen, Thomas: Sunflickers

If there is one genre that really overcrowds the marketplace it would be the guitar instrumental genre. For such a niche type of music there is a bewildering amount of product out there. Another problem is that in many ways many of the protagonists merely want to show off their chops – "Ooh, look at me, aren't I fast?" as opposed to actually playing some music and trying to connect with both the music and the audience. To some extent that is why I was slightly perturbed to be given Sunflickers to review.

I shouldn't have worried as one of the things that makes Sunflickers such a joy is the restraint shown by the German guitarist. Another is that the songs are actually formulated as songs and none of them outstay their welcome. It is almost as if Tomsen planned an old fashioned album with two sides and a logical sequencing – very unusual these days.

Tomsen has some friends as well. Check out this list: Bob Daisley (ex-Ozzy Osbourne,Black Sabbath,Dio ,Rainbow, Gary Moore, Uriah Heep..), Derek Sherinian (ex-KISS, Alice Cooper, Dream Theater, Black Country Communion, Billy Idol), Doug Pinnick (singer and bass player from the legendary band King's X), "The Fretless-Monster" Tony Franklin (ex-Whitesnake,Jimmy Page, Quiet Riot, Blue Murder, Paul Rogers,David Gilmour, Kate Bush ), Stuart Hamm (Joe Satriani,Steve Vai, Michael Schenker, Richie Kotzen), Michael Troy (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen), Melanie Bormann (Thomas Tomsen Group, FRANKENFISH) Bernd "Big Fat" Galetzka (GBT, ZorraE.) One wouldn't expect players of this calibre to put their names on a turkey and they haven't.

It has been quite a while since I've hummed instrumental music in my head during the day but there are elements within "Godfather's Walk" that that have burrowed their way into my subconscious and have refused to leave. Also, as strange as it seems I could actually imagine many of the songs on Sunflickers with added lyrics (sung by Dio in my imaginary world.)

Sunflickers clocks in at nearly fifty-two minutes long and it is fifty-two well spent minutes should you choose to give it a listen.

Track Listing:

1. Godfather's Walk
2. Sunflickers
3. Swedish Toccata
4. Up and Up
5. Fishing Birds
6. Crazy Crocodile
7. Shadow Play
8. Shadow Play
9. The Dead of Night
10. Godfather's Walk II
11. Child of Shadow Play

Added: September 4th 2011
Reviewer: Simon Bray
Score:
Related Link: Artist MySpace Page
Hits: 3054
Language: english

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