After releasing two albums in late 2014 -- the acoustic
Avalon with
Chris Eldridge and
Room with
Nels Cline --
Julian Lage returns a year and a half later with what is officially branded a solo LP,
Arclight. He's joined by bassist
Scott Colley and drummer
Kenny Wollesen, both of whom would subsequently tour with the guitarist as
the Julian Lage Trio. For a recording first,
Lage exclusively plays the electric guitar on the set, which includes seven originals and four covers. Highlights from the originals include the atmospheric "Stop Go Start," which is most concerned with timbre, and "Prospero," an elegant rocker. Among the cover highlights is an inspired take on the
Sammy Fain classic "I'll Be Seeing You," though the album is short on weak moments much less tracks, despite a variety of tempos and tones.
Arclight was produced by Grammy winner
Jesse Harris (
Norah Jones,
John Zorn). ~ Marcy Donelson