MICHAEL LANDAU - Tales From The Bulge

“Tales From the Bulge”, the incredible debut solo instrumental guitar disc from world-renowned guitar master MICHAEL LANDAU, features 11 tracks (56 minutes) of outstanding, exceptional, bluesy heavy guitar fusion of monumental proportions. One of the greatest instrumental guitar discs ever recorded. Period.

Michael Landau is a highly respected and exceptionally gifted guitarist. One of the best guitarists in the Guitar World and one of our favorite axemasters @ the Grooveyard. Landau’s control and mastery of the instrument is beyond superhuman and goes way beyond the norm. An accomplished and seasoned world-class guitar player’s guitar player who’s vast array of beautiful, lush, pure guitar tones (the Man is a true Tone Merchant), impeccable technique with tons of bluesy feel along with his strong compositional skills make him one of the most sought after studio guitarists in the world. “Tales From the Bulge” is a comprehensive and accurate representation of what Michael Landau’s guitar playing is all about. “Tales...” is also as a valid reminder as to why so many “high profile” producers call on him for studio sessions. “Tales From the Bulge” features tremendous playing, strong compositions (songs), an incredible production complete with Michael Landau’s tremendous guitar playing taking center stage. This is truly one serious bluesy heavy guitar disc. As an added bonus, "Tales..." is a new re-issue of this amazing instrumental guitar disc that includes an awesome unreleased bonus track called “Americana Boy” which is worth the price of admission alone. Serious guitar freaks in the know who are already familiar with the strength and power of the “Tales From the Bulge” disc need to score this new and improved version of this essential instrumental heavy guitar disc. If you aren't familiar with this amazing instrumental guitar disc tune in @ all costs. “Tales From the Bulge” is in a class all its own and one the landmark instrumental heavy guitar journeys of our time.

The MICHAEL LANDAU: “Tales From the Bulge” disc is an outstanding Total Guitar document that is Highly recommended to fans of HENDRIX, TROWER, JEFF BECK, STEVE LUKATHER, SCOTT HENDERSON, FRANK GAMBALE, ALLAN HOLDSWORTH, ERIC JOHNSON, JOE SATRIANI, GREG KOCH, CHRIS POLAND, PLANKTON and other- worldly, amazing, brilliant axemasters who take their guitars into the next dimension. Fans of MICHAEL LANDAU’s previous “musical output” will heavily dig this amazing instrumental guitar disc. Serious guitar freaks take note: Tone, Feeling, Composition and Raw Power...it’s all here. Don’t be fooled by the rather inconspicuous cover on the disc...”Tales From the Bulge” is all about the Guitar and a heavy guitar disc you won’t soon forget. A must have for any serious heavy guitar freak.

::TRACKS::

1. I'm Buzzed
2. Judy
3. Chynna
4. Johnny Swing
5. Big Bulge
6. Roodis Tones
7. Eater
8. I Don't Care
9. My Bulbous Meathead
10. I'm Hating
11. Americana Boy

CHECK OUT THE AWESOME MP3 SAMPLES FOR: TALES FROM THE BULGE

Don't let this one fool you...the somewhat cryptic title contains a secret code from the musical superbrain of Michael Landau to YOU...but ONLY if you have the esthetic capacity to appreciate that the "bulge" referred to here is analogous to how artistry can only emerge from a foundation of craftsmanship, and that genius can only be born of artistry. Most "artists" (as they are loosely referred to) are really just solid craftsmen - they know what they're doing and know how to do it pretty well, but...when all is said and done...nothing stands out. High quality sameness - extremely competent mediocrity. It's good, but not great.
Michael Landau has successfully deciphered the Rosetta Stone containing the Universal Creative Intelligence as applied to musical expression, to wit (at the risk of being redundant): before you can be an artist, you must first be a craftsman, and genius can only spring forth from artistry, NOT craftsmanship...a metaphorical "bulge" from the baseline, per se, expanding the boundaries of the chosen creative medium, transcending both craft and artistry and entering the realm of true genius. "Tales From The Bulge" is your personal guided musical tour of the afformentioned realm.
The sonic lattices and harmonic architecture interweaved here exhibit multiple "bulges" of sophistication, taste and technical prowess of the highest order. Every recorded moment pulls from a sonic textural pallette of astonishing breadth, depth and scope. Gifted artist/geniuses like Allan Holdsworth and Shawn Lane come to mind, but they are not mentioned here as a point of comparison, but as a point of reference. Make no mistake - Michael Landau is his own paradigm: his music is his alone, and he accomplishes the rare, almost impossible feat of transcending comparisons. The track "Big Bulge" exemplifies this transcendance perfectly...a wicked groove overlayed with a wonderfully quirky melody juxtaposed by a counterpoint figure that must be heard to be appreciated - the musical equivalent of hopping down a flight of stairs backward on one leg while juggling a collection of razor-sharp sabres.
It's all here - deft whammy bar chord swells, mind-expanding arrangements, extreme psycho-acoustic spaciousness and spread (break out the headphones, kids), stinging single-line melodicaidical whizzriff mayhem, "adult" chordal figures and progressions from the 10th dimension and genre-defying compositional diversity...all in all, an aural zen garden of musical delights.
On a final note, the bonus track "Americana Boy" winds down this outing, and grants a tip of the hat to Scott Henderson in both presentational vibe and intervalic spirit...sort of like a whimsical alien bossa nova from Alpha Centauri. With all of that said, Michael Landau is a true genius...and "Tales From The Bulge" proves it. Enjoy - an artist/genius like this "bulges" out only about once every generation.
JIMMY RYAN (TRUTH SQUAD) (9.08)