ERIC LOY
~ CATAPULT~
THE ARTIST & THE DISC
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"CATAPULT" is the newest solo release by Eric Loy, the guitarist
for the "Extemporaneous Hipperoos". A Jazz trio that excels in
improvisation, earning the title "extemporaneous". I would say Eric is part
visionary and part Jazz madman. He's a creative and articulate guitarist/composer
who cross breeds styles and genres to create a hybrid sound all his own.
"Catapult" is full of adventurous and vibrant songs that challenge
the mind, heart and soul. An overall feeling of joy fills the CD making it
more than entertaining, it's Fun! It's full of many different styles, with
Eric playing a few different instruments, making for a diverse and ever changing
journey into the unique stringed world of this gifted player. As I pointed
out, Eric plays more than just the guitar on "Catapult". He also plays Banjo,
Piano, Harmonica and the unique flavor on the CD, the Harp Guitar. The Harp
Guitar is an acoustic guitar with an extra independent set
of strings, giving the guitarist much more range and depth, as well
as more creative possibilities. Or in Eric's case, several set's of strings.
Check
out a photo of this wonderful instrument , you won't believe it. After
seeing this specially created guitar, I better understand how Eric can get
so many sounds out of it. Little did I know, he was the master of a
truely unique instrument.
When I hear the Harp Guitar the first person to come to mind is Michael
Hedges. Although not primarily a Harp Guitar player, he was the first one
to bring the resurgence of this classic instrument to my attention. Eric
takes this unusual sounding instrument into a whole different direction as
I hoped he would. Maybe it's Eric's strong Jazz background, but I find his
approach to playing as well as composing for the Harp Guitar to be refreshing.
His approach is somewhat similar to Michael Hedges, but from outside the
box. And his creativity is what puts him outside the box. It's enough that
this dynamic guitarist can play like that, but he also thinks like this,
too. I don't know if this is the mind of a genius or the mind of a madman,
but it's tapped into a part of the universe so far unexplored.
"Catapult" is a unique and creative CD full of songs that blend
contemporary feeling melodys with highly technical fingerstyle playing, many
songs with an underlying bluesy/jazz or classical influence. This is one
of those CD's where the compositions are as strong as the performance.
The songs are free and wild to strict and complex. Clearly a disciplined
player with a flowing natural performance, and among the masters of the Harp
Guitar.
This CD never leaves you in one place too long, constantly moving
and changing direction. Each turn bringing something new and always interesting.
On "Catapult" Eric will leave you stirred and shaken. He stirs things up
right off, opening with "Gangplank", a bluesy
ball of fire played on the Harp Guitar. My jaw just dropped the first time
I heard this track....Wow! Then Eric shakes things up on the way out, ending
with an electric MadJazz tune "Four In The
Furnace" ala The Hipperoos. And in between Eric goes through a
variety of styles and influences mostly expressed through the Harp Guitar.
Since being graced with the beauty of this instrument on Eric's CD, I have
fallen in love with it, atleast in the hands of Eric. On the stops off the
main path Eric shows off his bluegrass picking skills on "Bustlin", his piano
skills on another hot number "Caveat Knave" and his plugged in Jazz on the
smooth as satin "Tomato Assassin" and the burning "Four In The Furnace".
On three of the latter songs on the disc "Boomerang", "Tomato Assassin"
and "Four In The Furnace", Eric picks up the electric guitar and lays down
three very different Jazz grooves. "Boomerang" is a straight Jazz song with
a funky groove you just have to move to. "Tomato Assassin" is a sophisticated
Jazz song with a strut feel and a tastefully aggressive lead that I just
love. And "Four In The Furnace" has a rock feel, with avant Jazz solo delivered
with blistering intensity.
"A HEAVENLY FINGERSTYLE CD
FROM A DIVINE MUSICAL STYLIST".
click to go to Eric Loy's
Site Now...
THE TRACKS
if you don't know what the heck I'm talking about
(and who does?)....check out the samples below.
And read my comments while listening to a streaming 30 second sample of all
songs.
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The CD opens with "Gangplank" - An absolutely
ripping song with a blues feel. This musician even cleverly recreates the
"boinging" sound of the Gangplank, hammering the strings as well as the guitar
itself. Eric even lets you even know when the big plunge takes place. Knowing
the songs title when listening makes this track even more visual. Eric also
wastes no time showing off his finger skills. Gangplank shows a skilled
technician cutting lose. I kept looking at the CD photos for his 3rd hand,
I know it's there......
TRACK #2 "Torn Tether" - A beautiful and emotionally charged
song with a melancholy sadness. It's not necessarily a sad song, but there
is a vibe of an impending life drama. The uneasy air of this tune made it
one of my faves instantly.
TRACK #3 "Brisance" - This song starts off with a dreamy feel, but
quickly develops into a very funky groove, then builds and winds into a frenzy
before exploding. ( Brisance is "The shattering effect of the sudden release
of energy into an explosion") And this masterful guitarist brings this to
vision.
TRACK #4 "Face Like A Flint" - Eric surprised me on this track by
swapping his guitar for a Banjo on this song with a rambling feel. Eric adds
some very lonesome harmonica to this happy toe tapper. But this isn't just
a straight country picker, as with all of Eric's music there's a unique
atmosphere that I find in his acoustic performances (he goes electric later).
TRACK #5 "Cross Culture" - It could just be that this guy is so amazing
that now I'm looking to deep, but on this track I hear Blues/Jazz, Country,
Eastern, Classical etc. A creative song full of mood swings.
TRACK #6 "Sincerity Summons No Witness" - Eric creates a light airy
feel for this song. I almost used the word "spiritual" for the song "Torn
Tether". But I am aware I've used that word to freely lately, but there's
no other way to describe this beautiful track. I close my eyes, and I'm
goooooone.......slowing my heart and my mind. Tranquil.........
TRACK #7 "Bustlin" - A high octane country picker that show's off
Eric's Country picking skills, which are immaculate and sssssmokin'. Eric
could go toe to toe with the best, and come out the winner in most. A great
bluegrass style smoker that's also great to play air guitar to. Come on....Get
those fingers moving.....
TRACK #8 "Spider in Kings Palace" - This might be one of the best
tracks to hear the colors and textures Eric is capable of creating with the
Harp Guitar. This guy is clearly an accomplished player of such a unique
instrument.
TRACK #9 "Boomerang" - Eric plugs in and goes electric on "Boomerang".
A skin tight funky Jazz jam that shows Eric in a Jazz format. There was a
clear Jazz influence throughout the CD. But this isn't influenced, it's Jazz.
Something he's done in the past with his band "The Hipperoos". This CD just
gets more surprising song by song.
TRACK #10 "Tomato Assassin" - A smooth and slick Jazz song, that starts
out clean with sort of a classical influence. But soon the whole band kicks
in for a smokin' Jazz jam....Very Hot!
TRACK #11 "Caveat Knave" - On this song we get to hear Eric play some
horizontal strings, showing that he's just as creative and adventurous on
the Piano. This guy just keeps surprising me. A boogie deluxe with some white
hot leads.
TRACK #12 "Four in The Furnace"
- Eric becomes a Jazz madman and executes a straight forward heavy Jazz
attack.
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