VAL EXPERIENCE BAND: Osmium (ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Val is a Belgian guitarist who belongs to that generation of musicians who grew up listening to, among others, the American instrumental guitar heroes of the 1990s, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and co, to name but a few of the spearheads of the genre.

The movement was so innovative and singular at the time that people in the same situation know how difficult it is to break away from these icons and take the style to another level. Admittedly, the music was originally instrumental (classical, folk, jazz...), so the breakthrough was not there, but rather in having succeeded in taking the guitar to such a level that the genre managed to change dimension. In fact, many musicians still haven't recovered from the slap in the face they received... 37 years ago, on the very first notes of “Surfing with the Alien”.

Val has had the courage to dust off the ageing style of instrumental rock, more intimate today than it was then, at the risk of incurring the wrath of the more nostalgic, for whom getting a little too close to the genre's precursors borders on blasphemy. Nevertheless, the exercise is a success, as the tracks are certainly inspired, but Val has managed to appropriate the genre by adapting it to his own style, and the result is quite successful.

“Osmium” is a moving journey, at times tinged with oriental touches, boogie, sweetness shaken by violent vibrato blows, harmonics, rocketing scale descents, wah-wah-like plans, but also more melodic, soaring phrasing. While some tracks, such as 'OMG What a Trip' and 'Winter Mist', are entirely personal and take us right into Val's intimacy, others, like 'Don't touch the Sun', are obvious tributes to Steve Vai, so much so that the spirit of the latter is called forth throughout.

We must salute Val's fine effort in offering us over an hour of music entirely composed at home, by him, and highlighted by musicians of the highest calibre. The album can be listened to in one go without tiring despite its length, which is unusual in these days when it has become customary to offer only half an hour to three quarters of an hour of sound on average.

Today, when it has become difficult to make a living from one's passion, it's refreshing to see musicians still taking the plunge, freeing themselves from the “what's-his-name” and opening their hearts to the world to offer what they hold most dear: their authenticity... - Official website

VAL EXPERIENCE BAND

OSMIUM

AUTRE LABEL

ROCK