Swedish born and raised and now living in New Jersey, composer/musician Pontus H.W. Gunve has released his 2nd solo project entitled Movements. With its 14 instrumental tracks that fall somewhere between King Crimson, Steve Vai, or Zappa, Movements is a combined mix of Hard Rock, Classical, Fusion, the avant-garde and even the Sitar. The electric guitar is the focal point of Gunve's music but eclectic Electronika is also a big piece to this CD.
There are many layers to the musical landscape of Movements and Pontus H.W. Gunve seems more than happy to explore them. While not quite tranquil, nor repetitive, Gunve's Movements is a little left of center, for sure. Melodic? Yes. Confusing? Also yes. While the obvious talent of Mr. Gunve is apparent, this CD is more of nice background tapestry to what ever you are doing at the moment, than a CD that will move and shake you. In other words, it's not the CD that you'd find yourself grabbing again and again to listen to. Tunes like, "Funkified", "Movement I" and "Bengal" display the aforementioned musical talents, but also shows the lack of something that ultimately pulls the listener in.
A nicely done CD, Movements is best described as a quality ambient CD that takes the listener on a journey through a multitude of different feelings and "movements". A very good musician provides a CD that some might feel is a bit too laid back, and in the end Movements is really best suited for those times when one is looking to do a bit of self exploration.
Track Listing
1. Welcome
2. Blue
3. Bengal
4. Don't Do It
5. Funkified
6. Float
7. Race Across India
8. Movement I
9. Down Stream
10. Days Ahead
11. Intermission II
12. Time Runner
13. Drift
14. Movement II