The follow up to last year’s EP ‘8% Mango’ Lane’s debut album
sees a massive step-up in both song writing and production.
Having been the lead guitarist for punk/hardcore band ‘Bear
Safari’ since 2012, Lane first began writing solo material in 2013 initially
under the persona ‘Life in the Fast Lane’. After accumulating three years’
worth of work he then went on to remarket the project simply under the name
‘Conor Lane Guitar’ and released debut EP ‘8% Mango’.
Almost a year on and he is gearing up for the release of his
debut album ‘Origin’. Upon asking
what the album means to him Lane quotes ‘If this album were to say anything, it
would be to show how I interpret the concept of music, and if that can inspire
other people as much as it’s inspired me, then that’s more than I could ever
ask for.’
Packed with magnificent guitar work, brilliant
orchestrations and featuring guest’s solos by Patrick Somoulay, David Lovejoy
and Sims Cashion, Lane has managed to create a record that almost feels as if
it could be the soundtrack to blockbuster cinema. In short, if you’re going to
listen to an instrumental record this month, make it this one.
Opening the record is debut single ‘Graphite’ coming in at full throttle with a tasteful set of riffs
before corresponding into a pre-chorus of chugging. With a synth-like build up
bringing to song to a quick stop before diving into to the first guitar solo. Graphite
acts as the perfect introduction.
‘2001 DKS’ begins to show the somewhat
lighter side of Lane’s song writing, with ambient bass-driven melodies, quite a
bizarre song-structure and a beautifully performed guest solo from Patrick
Somoulay of Reflections, 2001
feels like a great segway between the opening track and the rest of the album.
Heading back into the grit displayed in ‘Graphite’ are tracks three and four ‘Crimson Cake’ and ‘Miraculous Escape’, the former initially being an instrumental idea
for Bear Safari that Lane choose to eventually develop into a solo track. ‘Crimson Cake’ feels like a continuation
or sequel to ‘Graphite’ while ‘Miraculous Escape’ features a guest solo
from David Lovejoy of Sorrow Plagues and leaves room for a wide range of orchestrations,
the type of sounds you’d hear in the build-up within a horror film.
‘This Town’ pulls
the record to a slow-down. As well as ‘2001
DKS’ it’s a track that allows room for the bassline to be most prominent, accompanied
by a simple drumbeat and delicate guitar that builds up before crashing into a commanding
solo and an outro that makes for one of the most soaring on the album.
‘Guttural Alpha’ is
a gut-punching instrumental that is backed by chugged chords and layered
melodies. Track seven ‘MPLESRUP’
makes for the shortest song on the album at just two minutes and five seconds.
Although being the shortest it’s probably the most brutal. The excessive use of
guitar bends and the drive behind all the instruments makes it clear that Lane
wanted to make the most of what the listener gains from these two minutes.
You’re probably in for a surprise with eighth track ‘Summer’ as it’s the only
non-instrumental song on the record, featuring guest vocals from Evertim’s Alex
Tuck. The song is reminiscent of early ‘Bullet for my Valentine’ material with
Tuck switching between harsh and clean vocals throughout and a chorus melody
that supports Lane’s instrumental perfectly.
Penultimate track ‘Rafiki’
bares a resemblance to the orchestrations heard in ‘Miraculous Escape’ creating a suspenseful atmosphere as the song
begins. Laced with layered harmonies and some of the most driving rhythm section
parts on the album. Topped off with an ending that seems to transition into
final track ‘Origin’ effortlessly.
Title track ‘Origin’
closes out the record, at a staggering eight minutes long it’s a combination of
everything previously heard and if that weren’t enough a guest solo by Sims
Cashion adds an entirely new element to the track in what is a truly anthemic ending.
‘Origin’ will be
available from March 8th on ITunes, Spotify, Deezer and Bandcamp.
Watch the official music video for ‘Graphite’ here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYC1Th5LWiQ
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