Neil Campbell - 2022 - Faldum

(48:52; Neil Campbell)

Track list:
1. Overture 10:37
2. Faldum One 3:01
3. Faldum Two 4:00
4. Faldum Three 3:57
5. Faldum Four 3:23
6. Faldum Five 4:05
7. Faldum Six 3:14
8. The Mountain 16:35

Line-up:
Neil Campbell  - guitars, bass, keyboards, electronics
Amy Chalmers - violin
Nicole Collarbone - cello
Jon Lawton - programming, electronics


Prolusion.
UK composer and musician Neil Campbell has been creating solo albums for a number of years, often releasing them himself but occasionally also getting a label involved. With various side projects and collaborations he has something like two dozen albums out at this point, a solid back catalogue created over the better part of 20 years. "Faldum" is the name of his most recent solo album, which was self released in the late fall of 2022.

Analysis.
Campbell's association with progressive rock is one that perhaps is a bit sideways oriented, as the rock aspect of the music perhaps isn't the most striking trait on many of his albums. It is present and a presence for sure, but it is the impulses from classical music and acoustic music that tends to dominate the impressions and associations one gets when listening through his material. It is progressive and it is rock, but made in a different manner and explored through a different approach than what most others tend to do.

This is also the case with this production, an instrumental concept album inspired by a novel by Herman Hesse. Campbell's wandering acoustic guitar isn't a dominant presence, but a constant provider of subtle and mesmerizing minor details that adds nerve and tension in a borderline inaudible manner, using minor variations to very good effect to create an organic and life-like feel in the compositions. The often driving and always subtle bass line is a clever feature too, you have to really listen to hear what it's doing and when you catch it it can be a breathtaking detail in the greater view of the careful and haunting melancholic landscapes explored here.

As is often the case with Campbell, we have a violin and a cello present, both providing both careful and more dominant overlays and undercurrents. On a few occasions dominating to the point of transforming the sequence into purebred chamber music in the classical tradition, but more often weaving carefully in and out of the limelight in tune with or opposed to what Campbell is doing with his guitar. Stunning and breathtaking music when everything  clicks, at least as long as you like your music with a strong acoustic foundation and delivered with a very subtle elegance. And elegant is the word to use for the electric guitar here too, more of a rare presence as an audible contributor, but always elegant and providing vital details to the landscapes explored when present.

Conclusion.
Campbell's latest album showcase how a subtle and careful approach and execution to acoustic dominated landscapes with a very clear inspiration from classical can function inside of an arguably progressive rock context. If you love careful landscapes, music that combines the acoustic guitar with strings, and progressive rock that draws in a liberal amount of impulses from classical music in general and delicate chamber music and classical guitar music in particular, then this is an album that merits a listen. Sometimes truly mesmerizing, and always captivating, at least if you tend to fancy this specific type of music.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, November 2022

Links:
https://neilcampbell.org.uk/