Buckethead
Colma

Buckethead is a very mysterious character: he hides behind his Venetian mask and his spectacular and acrobatic performances. I define him as an outstanding guitarist: technically very skilled, many surely describe him as the usual artist all technique and no emotion. I am here to disprove this. Buckethead, despite having made guitar albums that focused on speed and a rather striking technical impact, presents, with his third album "Colma," an aspect of himself and his compositional style that is truly unexpected and truly surprising.

"Colma" is an almost acoustic album, in the sense that you won't find distorted outbursts, but everything is based on sweet notes, sweet chords, and acoustic or clean guitars in the foreground. This album plays a lot on the artist's emotions and the simplicity of a few chords, a few notes exquisitely embedded on a carpet of delay and echoes that make the atmosphere ethereal, exciting, and of great impact.

"Whitewash" best represents this presentation: the notes are highlighted by the great work of the echoes, giving the sensation of a sweet lullaby. "For Mom", on the other hand, is admirably organized on sweet acoustic melodies. The melancholic and ethereal atmosphere is truly sublime and wonderful, especially with the following "Ghost". Buckethead, thanks to a wise compositional work, gives us nostalgic melodies and atmosphere, almost weeping with sadness, while "Hills Of Eternity" continues to create light walls of sound with sweetness and melancholy. Buckethead doesn't fail to show his mastery with "Big Sur Moon", where once again the echo carpets dominate while "Machete" is the track that features a sweet solo gently distorted, in which Buckethead shows us his melodic mastery. Also noteworthy is the intelligent use of electronics in some points, with scratches and sampled drums. "Wishing Well" draws attention to cheerful and more carefree melodies. Definitely impactful. The solo work is never intrusive but incredibly effective; every second of this album is special and wonderful. "Lone Sal Bug" continues on this line: no blunders, a perfect track in its incredible sweetness, where the sweet song of the acoustic reappears. "Sanctum" is a track that is almost distressing in its gloominess, characterized by an incredible use of effects that make his guitar a mournful and painful song. "Watching The Boat With My Da" is infinitely beautiful as an acoustic track. Simple and catchy, this track stays in your head as perhaps one of the sweetest things I have ever heard. Distressing and sad is "Ghost pt2" before arriving at a true masterpiece that is the title track "Colma". I can hardly perceive anything when I listen to this song, so transporting and fascinating it is. Honestly, I have never encountered such a wonderfully beautiful guitar album.

The length of the tracks is not burdensome; on the contrary, it further revives the nocturnal and melancholic atmosphere that pervades the album in its entirety. As I said previously, every single track is perfect, every facet and moment is memorable and worthy of listening. For lovers of excellent music that can evoke at least a single emotion, I heartily recommend it to everyone, even those who hate the guitar because this wonder deserves a listen.