Forgotten Room With Chairs

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Forgotten Room With Chairs, an album of solo electric guitar improvisations by cult British guitar player Gary Smith comes hot on the heels of Mass, the eponymous debut of his power trio that features bassist Gary Jeff and drummer Lou Ciccotelli (of Ice, Eardrum and Laika). In fact, this album predates the Mass sessions. It was recorded in 1996, under the encouragement of Trevor Taylor, who was inspired to link Smith's improvising with the photographs of Dylan Collard. Hearing Smith's playing in this context is certainly a challenge, as Smith eschews much of the electronic paraphernalia that can make solo guitar palatable. Instead, he plays with a very dry stereo sound, at times making the thing feedback for all it's worth and at others playing lightly shimmering chords that hover on the edge of pretty - but always with a threat. Elsewhere, his trademark flurries of dissonant, flying notes, often performed pianistically with both hands on the fretboard - are as mesemerising as ever. Another fascinating piece of work by one of the most interesting innovators on the world's most played instrument.