Andy West

Stephan Thelen: Fractal Guitar 2 - Remixes

by Mark Sullivan
February 3, 2022

Guitarist & composer Stephan Thelen's experimental guitar-fest Fractal Guitar (MoonJune Records, 2019) was followed by Fractal Guitar Remixes And Extra Tracks (MoonJune Records, 2019), a substantially fresh look at the material, as well as an expansion. For the sequel Fractal Guitar 2 (Moonjune Records, 2021) Thelen produced an even more radical approach to contemporary guitar-driven music. The remixes are also a step beyond. To start with, the album could just as well have been titled “Point Of Inflection ...

Stephan Thelen: Fractal Guitar 2

by Mark Sullivan
April 25, 2021

Guitarist and composer Stephan Thelen's Fractal Guitar (MoonJune Records, 2018) found him stepping outside of his role in the band Sonar in a big way. An absolute feast of multiple guitars with electronic effects, live looping and soundscaping, it also featured a star-studded group of guest guitarists (not to mention a grooving rhythm section). The good news is that almost all of them are back for the second installment, along with some new friends. The original album was largely created ...

Andy West with RAMA: Rama 1

by Glenn Astarita
December 26, 2002

Known for his longtime affiliation with the Dixie Dregs, bassist Andy West assembles an all-star prog-rock/jazz-fusion based band here. Supported by high-octane guitarist Mike Kenneally, Dregs drummer extraordinaire Rod Morgenstein and other notables, West lays down the booming bass patterns for this rather boisterous affair.

Notions such as Intelli-Metal come to mind, as the musicians meld raucous soloing endeavors with blistering rhythms and shrewdly coordinated shifts in strategy. And while the compositions are somewhat nondescript, this outing ...