The guitar in ambient soundscapes ...

Jesse and I have decided that this blog will feature not only the usual fare from the world of guitar playing, but also some of the fantastic variety that is so often overlooked by the mainstream.  And although many of these styles may not initially appeal to those looking for the standard melodies and structures found in rock, blues, and country, they are worth listening to for a taste of what is considered cutting edge in the world of music.

Today's entry features a couple of our favorite groups who rely heavily on the use of guitars and synthesizers to create a whole range of ambient soundscapes in their compositions - the post-rock group Hammock and the minimalist drone-based ambient group Stars of the Lid (SOTL).

It is important to point out that these artists are inspired by not only the vast catalogue of music history, including classical and jazz compositions, but also by countless works of literature and fine art from around the world.  And like most innovators, they draw ideas from life's many abstractions and peculiarities, as well as its beauty, including all aspects of light and dark.  These elements are incorporated into their music as themes, which are threaded into the notes of composition, and used to set the shifting mood of each piece.  And while their use of guitars may at first seem simplistic, it is important that as you listen you consider technique, tone and composition - all of which demonstrate that these are far from simple songs!  Additionally, it is important to point out that much of what you think is pure synthesizer sound may in fact be guitar played through either effects boxes or through computerized synthesizer units - this is especially true of SOTL.

I have selected an original composition from each group to feature here, as well as SOTL's cover of Arvo Pärt's "Fratres".  First up is "Breathturn", a song featured on Hammock's 2010 release Chasing After Shodows ... Living with the Ghosts - this is the official video, which was directed by David Altobelli ...

Second up is "That Finger on Your Temple is the Barrel of My Ray Gun", a song featured on SOTL's 2007 release And Their Refinement of the Decline.  This features video excerpts from the 1925 German silent film Wunder der Schöpfung - in English, Our Heavenly Planets - which were selected and posted by the YouTube account owner  ...

And last, but far from least, is this recording of "Fratres", which I believe is from SOTL's concert at The Triple Door in Seattle in April of 2008 (Jesse and I were there with my brother Don!).  The two guitarists, Adam Witzie and Brian McBride, were accompanied on this tour by a cellist, violinist, and viola player, who carry off with absolute brilliance the haunting melody of this piece.  And this particular YouTube version features a video excerpt from Andrei Tarkovsky's equally brilliant 1979 film The Stalker, which was selected and posted by the account owner.  "Fratres" is a very compelling work - for those of you interested in classical, Pärt is considered one of the great innovators of the minimalist style - and he is one of my personal favorites! ...

[edit, 26 April 2013]
Unfortunately the wonderful YouTube post combining SOTL's performance of "Fratres" with the scene from Tarkovsky's The Stalker was removed -- so here at least is the last scene in its original ...