the guitar based music of

M.Mucci

CD (2008), MCDR (2009), LP (2010)

The Tall House Rec.           M.Mucci : Under The Tulip Tree (CAN,2008)***'

Michael Mucci mentions 6 strings and the “legend of Blind Joe Death and Guitar Roberts” as his basic elements, like a building forth on the guitar approaches of John Fahey (to which this first part refers) and Loren Mazzacane Conners. This is his first full release after two EP’s (on Small Bitter Records & New America Folk Hero).

Most often we hear speeded circular picking movements with often melody on top, and slower waves with space and time (while listening to a bird on one track). On the second track was added a distorted electric guitar texturing and confirming an emotional move in the playing. Elsewhere small distorted or droning effects appear here and there. Electrified touches are added too just here and there. But mostly Fahey is stretched, tunes are sparsely given, the mood is present, minimal but energetic, railway lines of compositions.

CD limited to 500 copies.

Info & audio : http://www.myspace.com/tallhouserecordingco

& http://www.myspace.com/mmucci

Audio and info on http://mmucci.com/album/under-the-tulip-tree

The Tall House Rec.       M.Mucci : Late Last Night -mcdr- (CAN,2009)**'

From this new release I can’t say much really. It is an over 18 minutes late night improvisation, which is melodic-moodily. On a few parts the string sounds echo seems to get a few moments n their own live, like ambient, before the minimal water focuses back on the melodic excursion. Limited to 79 copies

Info & audio : http://www.myspace.com/tallhouserecordingco

& http://www.myspace.com/mmucci

The Tall House Rec.           M.Mucci : Time Lost -LP/digi- (CAN,2010)****

I have had a few listens to this new album by M.Mucci and I must admit he succeeds to provoke a certain feeling that time stands still, a contemplation with different directions under the form of lead picking tracks, and outros or small intermezzos in different styles. Also, a band accompanies him with nothing but percussive accents, mostly with cymbals, occasionally with a subtle singing bowl, harmonium and some slide guitar. The pickings leave space, are a few times more song like, and recall Fahey a bit here and there.

After a slow developing picking theme with accordion, a faster picking track follows, in a rather blues-mode but with happy effect. The bowl sounds leave time for a very slow picking intro in the next track, with resonance and space, before another faster Fahey-styled expression. The outro after that leaves the electrified acoustic guitar resonate a bit more.

Also the second side has changes that make the listening experience more rewarding, while they were made to combine the tracks best. As mentioned, one track is with cymbal percussion and sliding effect and faster pickings, leading to a more moody introspective track with inner quietness. This is followed by a song-like excursion with percussive accents that leads to more power in the playing as well. The outro with lots of resonance in the strings reminds me a bit of Daniel Lanois (with Eno). A nice unpretentious honest light but crafty expression.

LP limited to 300 copies.

Info & audio : http://www.myspace.com/tallhouserecordingco

& http://www.myspace.com/mmucci

& http://mmucci.com/ with audio on http://mmucci.com/album/time-lost

Artist of cover art : http://www.andreabird.com/ with remarks about this LP cover here

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