Mark McGuire – A Young Persons Guide to
Mark McGuire seems to be a busy person. Not only does he play guitar in the fabulous synthesiser band Emeralds, which has received a lot of love over the last few years, but he also has a prolific portfolio of solo releases that should not be underestimated. Setting aside his stunning release on Editions Mego last year, the recordings within ‘A Young Persons Guide to’ were mainly available as tape or CD-r releases in limited quantities which most people never had the chance to see or hear. Editions Mego now publishes a selection of tracks from these raraties compiled by Mark McGuire and Peter Rehberg of Mego.
The material is not that different from what you maybe expect or already know from the young artist. Effect ladden loop-based guitar psycheldica with synthesisers thrown in now and then. The tracks are a bit longer and meditative as on the recent “Living with Yourself” release and a touch rougher round the edges. Nevertheless the nostalgic sense of melancholy that you find, as well as in his solo works and the works with Emeralds is present in nearly all the efforts found within ‘A Young Persons Guide’. Chords flicker and echo above over textures, arpeggiated patterns fold and dissolve into each other. These 20 tracks are completely introspective, yet somehow manage to remain light and ethereal throughout the entire journey.
Even though Mark McGuire doesn’t re-invite the genre of psychedlic guitar jam-session-esque music, he does a really great job working within these boundaries.
