Scenes

Scenes is an ambitious instrumental work on which Marty Friedman, deliberately stepping away from his former aggressive guitar metal, headed toward clean, beautiful tone, quiet, delicate arrangement and melody evoking Eastern resonance. Involving Kitaro in production, it is greatly characterized by its fantastical, distinctive world. Here the guitar is sounded richly by no means to flaunt its speed but as a voice that draws beautiful scenery and deep emotion. From the solemn opener “Tibet” and the drama of “Angel” to a cut like “Valley of Eternity,” every song is engaging, while cuts like “Realm of the Senses” and “Trance” convey the work’s fantastical world. Marty Friedman’s singing guitar resounds beautifully throughout. A record on which the songs value ambient, rich blank space and sure songcraft, largely entrusting the scenes to the listener’s free imagination. Showing another side as a guitar hero, it also lets you fully savor Friedman’s delicate sensibility as a composer. An engaging record showing his many-sided musicality — a record where a new side of the guitarist shines.