Richard Bennett - Contrary Cocktail (new album)

[H97]

Just listened to it, very nice playing,nice songs... Definitely hear a lot of MK influence here 
Explains why he was away during the Tracker sessions I guess, recording his own album.

[border_reiver]

Is it the same irregular "hard to get" surrealistic instrumentals? 

edit:

Well, close. It's a collection of the longest country intros ever.

[superval99]

Just listened.  Richard seems a very nice person and I hate to be negative about his music, but I find this deadly dull.  I'm sure it would be much better if there were some vocals, but, as it is, it sounds like background music for something like the test cards we used to have on BBC tv whilst waiting for the programmes to start!   Really sorry!   

[foma]

I also have this attitude on instrumental music, but people say not everybody can write and sing own lyrics which is right.

As for Richard, it's one of the strongest instrumental musicians I ever heard. Solos is masterfully written, sound of guitar is simply PERFECT.

A lot of it can be called almost like ‘Elevator music’, yes, but he have strong songs like 'A Face No More' from his first CD, and jazzy one is awesome!

[Jules]

His first cd was, let's say, interesting, the second one, very good, with a great jazzy style on it, but the rest, are in my ignorant opinion, very very very very boring...

[border_reiver]

There are instrumentals (i.e. "Local Hero" and Sonny Landreth's "Native Stepson") and there are other instrumentals. It sure is hard to make something like that sound good enough not to skip forward.

I like RB, but his stuff just ain't my cuppa.

[foma]

There are instrumentals (i.e. "Local Hero" and Sonny Landreth's "Native Stepson") and there are other instrumentals. It sure is hard to make something like that sound good enough not to skip forward.

I like RB, but his stuff just ain't my cuppa.

Well I listened ‘Native Stepson’ and heard nothing interesting for me. No melody, no really interesting riffs, I love Richard's melodic solos much more.

So many people, so many tastes, which is great I think.

[superval99]

Doesn't bear comparison to the amazing "Wag the Dog".   I don't find RB's solos very melodic  - just rather boring, compared to MKs instrumentals.

[border_reiver]

There are instrumentals (i.e. "Local Hero" and Sonny Landreth's "Native Stepson") and there are other instrumentals. It sure is hard to make something like that sound good enough not to skip forward.

I like RB, but his stuff just ain't my cuppa.

Well I listened ‘Native Stepson’ and heard nothing interesting for me. No melody, no really interesting riffs, I love Richard's melodic solos much more.

So many people, so many tastes, which is great I think.

You have to consider it's being played with a slide 

[dmg]

Just listened.  Richard seems a very nice person and I hate to be negative about his music, but I find this deadly dull.  I'm sure it would be much better if there were some vocals, but, as it is, it sounds like background music for something like the test cards we used to have on BBC tv whilst waiting for the programmes to start!   Really sorry!   

Test card - lol.   

Well, if you don't like it I really think I ought to buy it! 

[superval99]

Just listened.  Richard seems a very nice person and I hate to be negative about his music, but I find this deadly dull.  I'm sure it would be much better if there were some vocals, but, as it is, it sounds like background music for something like the test cards we used to have on BBC tv whilst waiting for the programmes to start!   Really sorry!   

Test card - lol.   

Well, if you don't like it I really think I ought to buy it! 

Go ahead, by all means!       

[3Strats]

I really appreciate the technical side of Richard's playing, and the tunes are played superbly, but I do think he's at his best adding his touch to someone else's songs.  I like the style of the recent albums much more than the "Jazzier" stuff but it's still a genre that I can only take in small dozes.

[TJ]

On the subject of instrumentals, is anyone else here a fan of Lanterna?  Really just a guy named Henry Frayne, I have been a fan for many years.  He does "atmospheric" guitar instrumentals, I love it.

If you want to try out a few, listen to "Summer Break" from the album Desert Ocean, "Brightness", "Last Practice" or "Adriatic" from the album Highways, or "Elm Street" or "Departures" from Elm Street.  Just a few to sample. He also has a brand new CD out that I haven't heard yet.

It's not MK's style, but great stuff, IMO.

[surferboy]

Thanks for pointing out Lanterna to us!

[Knopflerfan]

As you all know I do enjoy my guitar instrumentals (mainly Hank) but I'm sorry this album by Richard does not float my boat at all.... I guess we are so spoilt by the master...