Loudspeaker

Loudspeaker is a fulfilling work on which Marty Friedman, while firmly keeping the sharp edge particular to metal guitar, deeply stepped into a rich melodic sense connected to Japanese pop and kayōkyoku. It strongly reflects his own viewpoint, having moved his base to Japan and become deeply familiar with its culture. Here the guitar, by no means only showing its speed and technique, richly carries phrases like singing, powerfully foregrounding the songs’ deep emotion. From the opener “Elixir” and the drama of “Street Demon” to a cut like “Black Orchid,” every song is engaging, while a bold instrumental cover of SMAP’s national hit “Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana” and a cut like “Paradise Express” convey the work’s variety. Marty Friedman’s songcraft-filled guitar is beautifully in sharp form throughout. A record on which the vivid contrast of light, beautiful pop and heavy tone stands out, and every song has a startling, unexpected development. Freely enjoying genre boundaries, it powerfully updates his own guitar language. An engaging record that largely widened a Japanese pop sense — a record where the guitarist’s variety shines.