Tommy Emmanuel releases 'Living In The Light', his first solo album in ten years. Recorded and mixed with producer Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Stapleton, Phish), 'Living in the Light' is a virtuosic blend of acoustic pop, jazz, classical, and roots music delivered by one of the modern era’s most accomplished and versatile guitarists.
Emmanuel captured most of the performances on ‘Living in the Light’ in one or two takes, and the sense of joy and wonder in these sonic explorations is more than just palpable; it’s intoxicating. While many of the recordings are solo instrumentals, Emmanuel lends his voice to several of the album’s tracks, as well, grounding his dazzling, percussive fretwork with a poignant dose of warmth and vulnerability. “There are elements of rockabilly, blues, even traditional African music all woven into the music,” Emmanuel explains. “I’m a world traveler, and I’ve absorbed so much music along the way. It all gets synthesized through a kind of osmosis into my psyche and my soul and then comes out in my own unique style.”
Emmanuel’s rendition of the Sharon O’Neill hit ‘Maxine’, is an early highlight. Widely acclaimed for his instrumental acoustic guitar work, Emmanuel reveals his rarely-seen talents on the song taking on lead vocals and performing both electric guitar and bass. Across the record, ‘Living in the Light’ weaves together influences from pop, jazz, classical, and roots music, including rockabilly, blues, and traditional African styles.
Despite his incredible technical skill, Emmanuel still manages to weave empathy and social commentary into his music on songs such as ‘A Drowning Heart’ which deals with the constant exposure to information on electronic devices. ‘Initiation 25’ finds inspiration in an aboriginal ceremony, while ‘Young Travelers’ was composed during COVID lockdown for a film soundtrack.
‘Living In The Light’ sees Tommy Emmanuel pushing his musical boundaries to deliver an exciting and enthralling record.