hank marvin

WITHOUT a Word DMG TV ✪✪✪✪✪

For many, the first name in electric guitar excellence is Hank Marvin. Pretty much every electric guitarist of note has some of their musical DNA linked to his magical Strat playing. Hank’s had a prosperous solo career based on his trademark ‘clean plus echo’ tone gracing the melodies of famous songs. His new album, Without A Word, is business as usual; 13 songs, from jazz (Duke Ellington’s Don’t Get Around Much Anymore) to TV shows (Ron Grainer’s Doctor Who), pop songs (The Beatles’ Michelle) to shows (Leonard Bernstein’s America). Production is perfect (acoustic guitar work is great) with Hank’s guitar to the fore brandishing a tone that’s clean while sustaining when needed. His arrangement of Elvis’ Are You Lonesome Tonight is outstanding; intro volume swells then bridge pickup twang for the melodyand pedal steel-like high notes in the middle. Cry Me A River’s late-night vibe sees him stomp on an overdrive for a solo that cries and swells and even nips into altered scales. As for his rendition of Doctor Who, it’s the better ’70s arrangement that he dips into, aided by a strong rhythm section arrangement and Vangelis-like thick strings. Overall, Without A Word is a sublime presentation of melodic electric guitar playing.