Reviews
Artist:Paul Tasker Album: Tierra-Quemada
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 9
Website: https://paultasker.bandcamp.com
Lockdowns and pandemic enforced isolation seems to have led to a run of rather excellent instrumental releases. With each being markedly different, highlights have included Barry Reid's Breathing Space, a celebration of quiet and contemplation, The Drystones more urban voiceless folk dance music on their Vulpus album. Now along comes Paul Tasker's TIERRA QUEMADA, an album of excellent contemplative, but spirited Banjo and Guitar music. It might be that periods of quiet time watching the world led to picking up an instrument and playing, it might be that instrumental writing offered more of an escape, an opportunity to get lost in a moment than songs. Whatever the reason or motivation, its led to some real treats for the listener.
TIERRA QUEMADA, Tasker's follow up to his debut instrumental set, COLD WEATHER MUSIC, showcases his strong playing. Tracks like "Womble The Sausage Dog", named for a neighbour's pet who was appreciative of his playing on the banjo, features Paul characterful pick and strum. "Firefly" is a feligtful between Tasker's Jansch influenced guitar and Rachel Hair's harp. The interplay between the plucked harp and bent notes on the guitar is a delight. "Roadtrippin" puts Paul's richly percusive guitars and banjo together to creative a whole that is both lively and relaxing. The title track is named in part for Tasker's family link to Valencia in Spain and you can hear the emotion of Classical guitar and Flamenco, but there is also a sense of rebirth in the beautiful repeating guitar motif. "Murmuration", with skittering drum and soaring Viola alongside the guitar perfectly captures the beauty and movement of flight. That percussive right hand with a little of Mr Martyn's funk and Michael Hedges Ariel Boundaries about it. There is movement and some lovely slide on "Riding Out". Richard Evans' Viola and some almost classical guitar suggest the weather on "After The Rain" with Robert Henderson's charming trumpet. "Last Waltz" restates "Firefly's" dance on claw hammer banjo.
Strings, says a philosophical 19th century quote on the sleeve, require periods of tension and relaxation to produce agreeable sounds. This is maybe the best explanation of the link between recent interesting times and the emotional, uplifting music being produced by Paul Tasker and others.
Marc Higgins
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