Mattias IA Eklundh
Freak Guitar: The Road Less Traveled

"The Road Less Traveled". Translating the title reveals much of what one might experience within the album. Yes, because this album is not simply a collection of guitar virtuosity for its own sake, without rhyme or reason. It's much more, but this will surely not be easy to grasp on first listen. You need to digest the sound of "IA Eklundh" little by little, that sound often more electronic than electric, leaving no room for easy clichés or shredder stereotypes. This Viking is something else. To anyone who feels compelled to accuse the Swede of constantly playing at the speed of light (let's be honest, this album is only for a select few crazy ones!), I merely say what I think: if every guitarist has their own "voice" with which they express themselves, then we simply must consider that this is his voice, his way of expressing himself. There are those who like to speak slowly, take long pauses to increase suspense, and there are those who prefer to attack you with an energetic tone, throwing millions of words at you that create a state of claustrophobic anxiety in the listener.

The work in question succeeds well for Mathias right from the first songs ("Print this!" is pure maniacal genius!). He attacks, but always with a smile on his face. Perhaps this is what makes this album so unique and enjoyable; amidst the sea of notes that rain down on us, all the joy that characterizes this pleasant little man shines through. He puts heart and charm into it, and this mix makes some passages almost worthy of a soundtrack. How is it possible, then, that 60 minutes of frenzied solos, strange and experimental sounds mixed with moments of acoustic reflection, end up becoming a pleasant sound background with a particularly eclectic atmosphere?

I believe the secret lies entirely in the way Eklundh chooses to express himself; if there is one thing that the guitarist of the third millennium should understand in order to stand out from the amorphous mass of million-note fanatics, it is to develop a strong taste for experimentation at any musical latitude. And episodes like "Fletch theme" or the merriment of "Insert coin" rather than the electric dance of "Samba caramba" are clear testimonies of the Swede's desire to travel with his imagination, letting himself be carried away by the inspiration of the moment without remaining anchored to used and worn-out schemes. And the sound is there, suspended in a delicate balance between jest and fantasy, straddling a fine line. In this album, Mathias Eklundh explores his entire self, far more than he can do with his Freak Kitchen where he is relegated to have a precise role with limits imposed by the genre. Perhaps too little for a wild spirit like his. Do not try to focus on the solos or the fast passages. Just try to listen to him while he talks to you.