Saturday, November 21, 2009

Mike-K - Rain Dance feat RwK

Hear The Track Here

There is a saying that people come to resemble their pets, and if you know Mike Kohlgraf (aka Mike-K), you'll know that he has a dog. This is not just any dog mind, this is a dog who believes its his right to demand to Mike take him for tinkles right in the middle of his Saturday Night Rocks radio show. Not once, but lots of times. Unless, of course, Mike is out there for a crafty smoke. Anyway, to get back to the point. Seen the pic of his dog? He's the one with the intelligent look in his eyes, the one who is sticking his tongue out at you on many of Mike's tracks. Now, study the pics of Mike and his dog and whammo, it's like a stereo picture...

Come on, I got to start with something....

Mike has worked with some truly stunning musicians over the years, pretty much a roll call of the major figures of this scene over the last four or so years anyway. A great deal more, I might add, once the fame of Mike's radio show spread. Reaping the rewards now, Mike gets to work with one of my favourite guitarists of the moment; Rick Kresiak. If you've ever been around Mixposure for any time at all you will have heard Rick's work by the bucketload, all of it rocking as only this guy can rock. From the getgo, Rick's sound and style grabbed my attention and I'm VERY particular about plank spankers, being a founder member and leading light in the religeon of Jimi (wherein Eric Clapton discovered he wasn't God, just John The Baptist). Something about the way this guy plays sets him out, so to see Mike and him getting together was awesome (if somewhat expected ;) )

I was fortunate enough to see Fleetwood Mac right at the very beginning (at some cheesy festival in 1968/9) having followed them from John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, and all because Peter Green was by far and away the most impressive guitarist of the lot. Rick Kresiak has much of that tonal quality and fluidity of playing Green is famed for, and on Mike's excellent musical underpinning, he swoops, he soars and he scores, time and time again. In all ways, both these guys have given us one of their best. It even avoids many of the usual pitfalls I level at Mike, it's smooth but not overly so and it may well be easy listening but when listening to music of this quality who gives a damn about labels. Now, if only I could get my hands on a Moog guitar I might chance into sounding like this, but it isn't for mere mortals...

Very high class guitar instrumental. Highly Recommended.

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