Les Finnigan – Counterpoint Conundrum
String Plunker Records – 9 October 2018
It is interesting how, over the last fifteen years or so, the appreciation of solo acoustic guitar music has gradually widened, shifting from largely within the folk and New Age realms to reach discerning listeners of all things ‘indie.’ Consequently, amazing musicians like Daniel Bachman, Nathan Salsburg and, most recently, Gwenifer Raymond, have arrived to a ready-made audience far greater in number than could ever have been expected two decades ago. This is good news for someone like the brilliant, Vancouver-based Les Finnigan, a multi-award winning master acoustic guitarist whose ninth independently released album, Counterpoint Conundrum, presents re-recordings of fifteen contrapuntal compositions plucked from his impressive back catalogue, released in their original forms between 1997 and 2016.
(If you are or ever happen to be in the neighbourhood) Finnigan can be seen plying his trade, busking in all weathers for many hours almost every day at Vancouver’s Granville Island, the city’s self-proclaimed ‘heart of craft, creativity and culinary delights.’ Besides a potential passing daily audience of thousands, concerning the arts and culture aspect of this popular local and tourist attraction, it is the ideal pitch for Finnigan. While in this setting he may enjoy reaching new ears, he does of course also perform occasional ‘regular’ concerts and dedicated guitar nights to those already fully aware of his music or reputation.
A guitarist of dazzling technical skill, he has been variously described by YouTube viewers of his performances as ‘Michael Hedges reincarnate,’ ‘the best guitarist I’ve ever seen,’ and ‘a guitar god.’ As a non-musician fully cognizant of what makes a great one, I must say that these observers are not exaggerating. Finnigan is unquestionably highly technically proficient, but his beautiful music is also loaded with soul and invention. On Counterpoint Conundrum, he amply displays these facets of his performance and compositional chops, but in a restrained, meditative and courtly manner reflective of contrapuntal music’s Renaissance/Baroque origins.
If the term contrapuntal is new to any reader, Finnigan simplifies it in Counterpoint Conundrum’s sleeve notes: ‘Counterpoint is the art of combining two or more independent melodic lines in a composition’ and, as a long-held ambition, the new album is ‘an opportunity (for me) to add a modern and alternative source to this underrepresented style…’ Counterpoint music in any format is apparently considerably more difficult to compose or perform than it sounds, and as such makes for a fascinating listen. Beyond playing it for pure enjoyment I have already aired this mesmerizing CD numerous times, intently listening to each of the fifteen delicate pieces (only two of which exceed three minutes) in order to unravel and follow every independent melody. It is quite a journey.
Even for a non-musician such as myself, Finnigan’s Counterpoint Conundrum stands up to such studious examination and nerdy appreciation, yet equally and simply as a calming 36 minutes of utterly gorgeous contemporary acoustic guitar music to soothe a fevered brow: a win-win situation.
Album Order Links Here: http://www.lesfinnigan.com/cds.html
Although not featured on the album, the video below of March of the Millipede (from his CD The Brave Dog) will give a small taste of Finnigan’s unique acoustic offerings.
More here: https://www.youtube.com/user/stringovision
Photo Credit: Valeria Fellini