SALINA ALBERT & TOM RIEPL: ALMOST EMPTY WE UNPLUGGED

Singer Salina Albert and the among ‘Gitarre&Bass’ readers well-known guitarist Tom Riepl have recorded an EP (‘Almost Empty We Unplugged’) in which various acoustic guitars and a ukulele, discreetly supported by percussion, support the harmonic and rhythmic background for Salina Albert’s bell-clear and present voice. Six songs, including an original composition, were recorded with great attention to detail and performed flawlessly. It starts with the Dickey Betts classic ‘Good Time Feeling’, an uptempo swing that evokes associations with the legendary recordings of Les Paul and Mary Ford through Salina’s flawlessly intoned harmony vocals as well as the three-part guitar set in the middle section. Joni Mitchell’s ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ grooves a bit more relaxed than the original, without losing sight of the song’s spirit. The Allman Brothers cult song ‘Midnight Rider’ mutates into an almost mystical sound painting. In Barry Volk’s ‘I Can Fly’ and ‘Home’ penned by Tom and Salina, the only electrified addition we hear is a Stratocaster. The album is multi-layered, without appearing overloaded, and guitar gourmets will discover new filigree details of highest string art every time they listen to. The transparent and dynamic sound of the EP, which can be purchased online at www.tomriepl.com, deserves special praise. wk

© Gitarre&Bass 8/2020