Short Reviews [Michael McClure - 2025 - "Tall Tales From the Path Less Traveled"]

This is the latest release from multi-instrumentalist and producer Michael McClure (rhythm & lead guitars, 12-string acoustic guitar, lap steel guitar, slide guitar, baritone guitar, bass guitar & synth bass, keyboards & synths, percussion loops, samples, backing vocals), who I will always think of as being involved with Andy Faunch, who I note provides lead vocals on one song. Mike Kosacek provides drums on five tracks, Carmen Borja ukelele on one, but for the most part this is Michael and his myriad guitars taking us on a journey. What I find fascinating is the way we can go from an almost ambient and dream approach with guitars everywhere which allows us to meander down the river only for us to be woken up by a rock number with the next one being jagged pop! It is musically all over the place, with some sounds being solid Eighties, others somewhat older, while others are bang up to date as Michael mixes prog with pop and other genres to create an album which generally does not have room for vocals yet somehow appears that it does with different instrumentations taking the lead. I can see why Michael and Andy work so often together as they definitely have similar mindsets, and while this is a guitar album one cannot help but think the likes of XTC and The Thompson Twins have had their part to play while Zappa is sat in the corner somewhere gently smiling to himself. It is a fun album, meant to be played and enjoyed, and I cannot wait to see what Michael comes up with next.