Nearly 25 years since their first
recording Acoustic Alchemy have toured extensively around the globe. They have
sold over 3 million albums worldwide, and have received 47 Major industry
awards including 3 Grammy nominations
The story of
Acoustic Alchemy has always been about innovation and adaptability. The
UK-based group has crafted a sound that maximizes the potential of not only the
acoustic guitar but also its electric counterpart - and in so doing they've
explored the subtle corners where jazz, pop, world music and other genres
intersect. Along the way - with the help of a massive worldwide following
created by consistent touring - they've weathered personal setbacks, dramatic
shifts in musical trends, and in recent years, sweeping changes in the music
industry.
The next
step in this on-going journey is ‘Roseland', their new recording for their own label Onside Records and available exclusively in Hi Def from NaimLabel.com. "We're
very excited about this recording," says Acoustic Alchemy co-founder Greg
Carmichael, who specializes in nylon string guitar. "It represents an entirely new
chapter for the band. By establishing a new label, we're taking more control of
our own direction, and by partnering with Heads Up and their resources, we can
reach the broadest possible audience worldwide."
While they
may call themselves Acoustic Alchemy, Carmichael and his creative partner and
co-pilot, Miles Gilderdale, exercise plenty of creative licenses by injecting
generous elements of electric guitar into the mix on Roseland. This sonic edge
comes courtesy of Gilderdale, who was an electric player first and foremost
before joining the band in 1996. Together, Carmichael and Gilderdale explore
elements of jazz, rock, country and reggae - all of which makes for an album
that's both eclectic and yet cohesive at the same time.
Also along
for the ride is the band's usual touring lineup: keyboardist Fred White,
bassists Gary Grainger and Julian Crampton, and drummer Greg Grainger.
Other
assistance in the sessions comes from Hammond organist Ricky Peterson (Bonnie
Raitt, David Sanborn, Joe Sample), pedal steel player Frank Mizen, drummers Dan
Mizen and Sam Hobbs and a full complement of horn players.
Roseland was
recorded in Gilderdale's newly constructed home studio in York, England, a
place where the band could be creative without the pressure of a ticking clock.
"We used the studio as a place to write," says Carmichael. "We would just throw
ideas at each other. You try things as you go along. That's the beauty of
having your own studio. You can try an electric guitar solo here, a
steel-string solo there, a trombone solo somewhere else, whatever you like. It
may have taken us a little longer, but if something didn't work, it didn't
matter. We just tried things until we found what did work."
"For a lot
of people, instrumental music is just a sound that plays in the background,"
says Carmichael. "But we put a lot into it - not just with this record but with
every record we've ever made. I'd like to think that after all these years;
we've learned how to take people on a journey. A lot of our fans have said that
we do that for them. As long as they keep coming back, and as long as they want
to stay on that journey, we'll keep doing what we're doing."