To describe Martin Lloyd Howard simply as a guitarist is not only an understatement but an absolute injustice, too, to a musician of such extraordinary talent and lineage. He does more than simply play an instrument: he is a real maestro of sound, using his classical education to compose pieces with elegance, virtuosity, and spirituality that not many artists on Earth can even aspire to. He operates at heights completely unattainable for most guitarists, turning six strings into an orchestra full of life and raw emotion. Listening to him is like seeing a maestro in action, a man who plays music with his entire soul. Those lucky few who have been able to listen to his mesmerizing creation called “Selene”—an absolutely captivating, tear-jerking piece of pure devotion made in honor of his wife—are already aware of the tremendous emotional capacity that such a man has in his hands. This man’s music is unique and special because it does not remain just background music, but actually changes the atmosphere of any place where it can be heard. The incredible music pieces named “Hidden Andalucia,” which makes people feel the bright sunlight, and “Highland Mist,” which immerses people in mystery and fantasy, surround one with the magic of this music and change their environment. Howard is a true musician alchemist. Here, the beloved maestro comes around again to bless our listening sphere with his latest track, “Surrey Bells,” on September 21st. Having such a colossal maestro come around again is definitely something special, and this track is yet another dazzling gem in his already illustrious crown. So sit back, close your ears to the hustle of the outside world, and allow yourself to plunge right into the enchanting brilliance of this magnificent new track.
As soon as the very first strings are plucked, “Surrey Bells” begins with a guitar melody so enchantingly rich and ethereal that it will immediately take you to your ideal place of happiness. This opening piece is filled with such an incredibly sensual feeling of warmth and comfort that it feels as if you are experiencing the perfect experience of eating a perfectly golden pancake on a sunny morning. It is a heavenly combination of comfort and acoustic mastery. Howard’s iconic style of playing classical music comes alive as every note is perfectly produced and emitted into the atmosphere like a gentle breeze flowing across the country. He doesn’t simply play a guitar; he creates a sanctuary of sound where the listener can be immersed in the world of complete bliss and golden euphoria.
As the track progresses, the composition titled “Surrey Bells” proves to be a unique musical piece for two entwined guitars, which is a beautiful illustration of the eternal melody of bells sounding in the hilly landscape of English villages. Howard is not only able to imitate the sound of bells, but also to recreate the very spirit of these instruments, the resonance and the harmony of the sounds, the silence and serenity created by them after sunset. The dialogues of the two parts of the composition are absolutely amazing, like sunbeams playing in old trees in the evening. Such rich and cavernous sound is achieved by means of legendary DADGAD tuning used throughout this piece, which opens up an array of possibilities to create sound that resembles drones as well as string sympathetic vibrations, replicating the natural overtone sequence of bell towers.
The recording process was done in Howard’s own home studio with his Tanglewood steel-string guitar, and each overdubbed layer is placed with great artistic skill. The sounds of steel-string sustain, shimmer, and decay create a feeling of grandeur, but at the same time, it is a very intimate sound. This track is a great lesson in independent recording, showing once again that when Howard, who possesses truly phenomenal talents, touches the guitar, magic happens. In terms of visuals and mood, this spectacular piece of music forms a beautiful cinematic image of a cold winter morning with the light of the sun over the valley of Surrey that is rather quiet and peaceful and features the old church bell towers that come to life and begin their divine transcendent exchange of sounds over the frosted hilltops. Howard’s talent is revealed in the magnificent spatial production, as the musician applies a nice and distant reverberation to one guitar and gives enough space for another one to sound clearly and brightly. This amazing stereophonic technique gives the audience an incredible feeling of space, size, and a three-dimensional world in which every note can have its place.
Such a piece of music is rather meditative and dynamic at the same time and reveals Howard’s wonderful talent of transforming acoustic frequencies into geography and emotions.
“Surrey Bells” is not something you listen to; you experience the coldness of the morning air, the light passing through the leaves, and the many years of history whispering in the valley. “Surrey Bells” is a true master class in composition on guitar; one which confirms that Martin Lloyd Howard is a master magician of music. That’s the wonderful world of Howard, and he invites everyone in, so come into his world; you would never want to leave!
Stream “Surrey Bells” on Spotify
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