STEPHAN THELEN

Experimental guitars combine to mesmeric effect. Since 2019, Swiss guitarist and composer Stephan Thelen has convened what amounts to a regular summit of creative guitarists working across the progressive, ambient, electronica, and jazz scenes. This latest Fractal Guitar release is arguably the best to date. Here, the collective fretboards of Eivind Aarset, Markus Reuter, Jon Durant and other guitar guests collide with drummers Yogev Gabay and Manuel Pasquinelli’s pulsing rock grooves. Yet this is no tedious jam session – there’s not a solitary clichéd lick in earshot. All instruments are deployed with Thelen’s distinctive orchestral precision. Some drift hazily like clouds, others bring timbral and rhythmic structure, but all combine to frame fierce and inspired soloing. Heady cascading runs, hypnotic drones, tangled rhythmic counterpoints, and vaporous keyboards dance in and…