It gives us great pleasure to have the wonderful American maestro Martin Lloyd Howard grace our pages once again. “Guitarist” would be a very inadequate way to describe such an amazing individual, for he is an architect who composes sounds with an excellence refined through the tough discipline of classical training. For those of you familiar with his profoundly emotional work entitled “Selene,” which was a loving tribute to his wife, you will already know that his compositions can touch your heart in ways that make you cry. Today we have a new song from Lloyd called “Hidden Andalucia”, released on 1st May. Let’s take a look at it.
As soon as the song begins, there is an immediate sense of the intimacy of the sound that comes from listening to a beautifully crafted guitar line with a Latin flavor that is so subtle and gentle that one cannot tell if it is being played or spoken. Immediately, you will find yourself awed by how vivid the sound is, as if you could actually feel the warmth of Lloyd’s hands stroking the strings of his guitar.
The key concept behind “Hidden Andalucia” is a spectacular original composition for classical guitar solo, which acts as an innovative connection between two apparently incompatible styles of music. The composition manages to create an outstanding dialogue across continents by placing its initial and final parts in the context of the melodic beauty of the Elizabethan lute-player and composer John Dowland, known for his melancholy style of playing. Then, at some point, a dramatic change of scenery takes place: the central part of the piece gets charged by some exciting flamenco tunes.
It might be quite challenging to combine the nobility of the English Renaissance music and passionate flamenco rhythms, but the ultimate victory of Lloyd is the way he managed to create such a connection between them. Lloyd was planning to create a work of music which would unite both styles, and while Lloyd could hope he would be able to do it successfully, I can definitely say that he managed to accomplish his goal perfectly.
A guitarist who was first trained in the more elegant classical style in the English language, Lloyd has taken years to diversify himself musically through the different genres of folk, blues, and rock, using the electric and acoustic guitar. The primary tool in his art form is his classical guitar, which he has had for half a century and is thus endowed with much soul from the wood. However, his mastery does not end here; Lloyd plays the electric, acoustic, and slide guitars, composing his own instrumental music alone and in ensembles. Such versatility has become more pronounced due to his working relationships with other established artists, specifically Mark Johnson from The Midnight River Crew from Kent. This immense amount of experience is exactly what enables Lloyd to compose music that will fit perfectly with the listener’s preferences, and every song that he creates becomes an almost perfect journey, skillfully conducted by the master of music composition. With such classical technique and talent combined, Lloyd’s music identity is unique and distinctive from others.
This musician has made sure that all his songs have maintained their uniqueness, and this song is certainly no different. This piece takes you by storm, giving you a raw experience of his artistry. With the level of skill involved in this creation, it is easy to see that Lloyd has standards that he will always maintain in his work. There is absolutely no way that anyone can fail to admire his vision after listening to such a wonderful creation, and we shall definitely look forward to more creations from him soon.
Stream “Hidden Andalucia” on Spotify
Subscribe to Martin Lloyd’s YouTube
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