Reviewed by Ian Webber

There will be few readers outside of Seaton, Devon who will have heard of 15 year old Harley Noy. Musically self taught he has progressed from the drums, through the bass to lead guitar. In this his first recording he displays an accomplished style and maturity way beyond his years. He cites Eric Clapton and Joe Satriani as influences, but could be compared to any number of guitar heroes from the late '70s or '80s. All the music on this 10 track independent release is played, recorded and produced by Harley. The album opens with the laid back, jazz feel of "Now Is The Time". As the tracks progress, things become heavier and the ever present guitar solos become more finger shredding. Chunky backing riffs can be heard on my favourite cut "Hard Rock Anthem" which harps back to the days of 'big hair metal'. This set of instrumental tracks would benefit from the addition of some vocals to provide a little more variety and texture but one must admit that this is an impressive showcase with a sound quality that is crystal clear and detailed.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.