By virtue of a lot of touring, playing and general hard work over the last few years, fingerstyle guitarist Guy Buttery has become a well respected figure on the local music circuit, and has won acclaim with his understated yet powerfully evocative performances. Three times SAMA-nominated, Buttery has criss-crossed South Africa numerous times in recent years, and was invited to play in Australia, Britain and America last year alone.
Recorded at Peace of Eden in Knysna, Fox Hill Lane is a collection of songs inspired by what Buttery refers to as “the disparity of travelling the great distances when touring combined with the still and quiet insulation of living on the North Coast of KwaZulu Natal”. Having lived a large part of his life in this idyllic setting, which has had a powerfully formative influence on his music, it is not surprising that the relatively disjointed and chaotic experiences of touring and self-promotion would figure prominently in Buttery’s latest writing. Thus he speaks of this album as being “characterised by a combination of movement, growth and detachment with longing, yearning, reflection and the anticipation of return”. It is also a record of collaborations with several other local musicians: mentors, contemporaries and friends. These include some eminent names such as Tony Cox, Nibs Van Der Spuy, Dan Patlansky, Syd Kitchen, Piers Faccini and Madala Kunene.
Fox Hill Lane is a study in contrasts, ranging from the meditative, slightly nostalgic solo guitar of opening track ‘7” postcard (45RPM)’ and ‘Travel By Packet’, to the jubilant mbaqanga-tinged ‘Sibanisezwe’ and ‘Mama’, and the mesmeric cycles of ‘Half a Decade’. The album contains plenty of Buttery’s trademark intricate fingerwork and full use of the rhythmic and percussive qualities of his instruments, as he explores the boundaries of different styles and genres. The use of instruments like the dobro, tabla, sitar and hosepipe flute give the music an original, earthy feel, and there is the suggestion of mountains, rivers and wide open spaces, the sounds and rhythms by turns soaring and energetic, brooding and melancholy. Mention must also be made of Martin Wolfgaardt, whose sensitive and dynamic piano parts compliment the other instruments extremely well.
Fox Hill Lane is a testament to Guy Buttery’s growth as a musician and a person, and a richly textured collection of beautifully crafted music, rooted in South Africa but destined for the world.
Buttery will be touring around SA over the next couple of months to promote the new album; for more on this go to http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=116891268067&ref=nf
Ratings:
Artwork: 8.5/10
Technical: 10/10
MIO rating: 9/10
| City: | Natal |
| Company: | Buttery |
| Country: | South Africa |
| Natural Feature: | North Coast |
| Person: | Dan Patlansky, Madala Kunene, Martin Wolfgaardt, Nibs Van Der Spuy, Piers Faccini, Syd Kitchen, Tony Cox |
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