author:
West Side Dave
Guitarist
Steve Brockmann hails from Northern Germany, and is very active in the
music scene there. His latest studio offering is "Expected Errors", an
11-track totally instrumental affair. But if you think this is gonna be
a bunch of endless noodling over canned tracks, THINK AGAIN! As a
musician and songwriter, Steve is a model of restraint, cutting loose
when needed, holding back when necessary. Sure, he can burn up the
fretboard like there`s no tomorrow, but Steve`s a song guy, crafting
instrumentals that are memorable and don`t require a degree in music
theory to enjoy. Not an easy task, but Steve is MORE than up to the
challenge, believe me! It should be noted that Steve not only wrote ALL
the songs, he played all the instruments, mixed the album AND did all
the artwork, as well! [wonder if he does windows, too?] Unlike other
one-man bands, however, the level of quality control is VERY high and
there`s no self-indulgent wankery to be found here. Doubtless a lot of
time and care went into the arrangements, and it shows in every single
track. It`s obvious that one of Steve`s primary influences is Brian
May, as can be heard in the soaring guitar harmonies. Shades of Pink
Floyd also abound; in fact, Steve`s tone and delivery remind me at
times of David Gilmour`s playing on "Animals", though there`s also
high-tech Metal shredding to satisfy Shred-Heads everywhere. This guy
is HARDLY a "jack of all trades, master of none"! While it`s not a
technique freak`s wet dream, "Expected Errors" IS an entertaining,
enjoyable and accessable album that can be appreciated by ALL music
fans, which is no mean feat for an instrumental release. But in the
hands of artists like Steve Brockmann, it`s all in a days work. So
please visit Steve`s website and pick up his releases; we DEFINITELY
need more musicians like him, and your continued support will make
certain that we do! [Great job, Steve!] |
