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JULIAN GARNER
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Julian still gives very occasional performances as singer/songwriter. But over the last decade he has increasingly specialised in classical (nylon-string) guitar - a wonderful instrument that deserves to be more widely listened to, and is overdue a popular revival. He performs regularly in Dorset and is also in constant demand as a guitar tutor. He hopes that, by all his musical activities, he encourages people to discover that playing and performing on guitar can be as rewarding as listening to someone else do it!
While keyboards continued to feature on his solo albums, years of formal classical guitar training then ensured that the guitar gradually became his new main instrument. Acoustic, electric and bass guitar parts blended with keyboards and vocals increasingly on the two albums which followed over the next 5 years, Doublethink and Your Good Self.
You don't have to look far to find critical praise for Julian's recordings. The respected and articulate Dutch Progressive Rock Page wrote in 2005 that “Mr Garner is an exceptionally talented lyricist...", and that: “The playing, arrangements, and compositions on Your Good Self are mostly fantastic, with the title track and Cryptic Love standing out as hallmarks. Mr Garner has a fine sense of atmosphere...”. Classic Rock Society magazine have said: "He is a fine guitarist and all round musician...", referring to his "...strong, expressive voice...". The same publication, a great champion of new, progressive music, described 2004's Your Good Self as "...brilliant...one of the year's best releases". Meanwhile, as the Progressive Rock & Progressive Metal Internet Zine of Brazil put it in 2005: "Mr. Garner also shows himself up in great style on the lead vocals", which may lose something in the translation but was part of an excellent review which suggests that English-style classic pop/rock with a hint of progressive rock has an appeal way beyond Julian's native Dorset, London, or even Europe. Another well-established review website, Silhobbit, pointed out that: "Garner's 'signature sound' [is] a subtle blend of the best parts of XTC and Sting with a forward velocity that is unique to Garner's talent as an arranger.” Another site dedicated to original and progressive music, the Hairless Heart Herald said that Your Good Self was: "...a pure delight to listen to! Full of little surprises at every turn... This is rich, beautifully layered but nothing is laboured or overblown. The result is absolutely gorgeous.”
JULIAN GARNER |