Review of Virtuoso Guitar Duo CH2’s new album release - their 12th - of STARSTRUCK.
CH2, the multi-international award-winning duo from South Africa just released their 12th album and I was fortunate enough to have a listen. classical – guitars seems to be the sound they are comfortable with, you can tell by the different transitions between tracks and their guitar playing skills are evident.
A number of exciting international, African and local collaborations are featured on the album, which makes sense if you want to have an album with different influences and one that will take you to places. Their choice of collaborations is amazing, I loved what Nomad and Llloyd Cele brought to the album, these two artists brought immense soul and texture to the project.
The album is graced with the musician mastery of world-class artists like Denny Lalouette on bass (Josh Groban, Leo Sayer, Chris de Burgh, Shirley Bassey, Andy Narell (American steel drum player), Demis Roussos, Patrizio Buanne, Michael Gibbs (British arranger), Joe Henderson (American jazz saxophonist), Trevor Rabin, (Dana Winner) and Brendan Ross on sax (who played for the legend Johnny Clegg)
One of the elements I liked is how gracefully they handled cover songs on the album. There are some songs that you don’t truly appreciate until another artist takes it on and makes it their own. Often times the newer version draws out the original’s complexities in a way you never would have noticed before. Or maybe the first version is equally compelling, but the cover artist reimagined it with such grandeur that many don’t even realize that it’s a new take on an old song. I enjoyed their cover of Shakira’s 2010 hit, ‘Waka Waka’, perfectly executed.
My Top 3 Tracks:
1. Keep Moving ft Lloyd Cele
2. Dream ft Butera
3. Volare
Least favourites:
1. Fabel (live)
2. I’ll tell me ma
3. Thunderstruck
STARSTRUCK is available for purchase via various digital platforms. Hard copies of the album can be bought at their many public gigs, ordered online at http://ch2.bigcartel.com otherwise by clicking the “Shop” button on CH2’s website.
Review by Thabang Nteso
CH2, the multi-international award-winning duo from South Africa just released their 12th album and I was fortunate enough to have a listen. classical – guitars seems to be the sound they are comfortable with, you can tell by the different transitions between tracks and their guitar playing skills are evident.
A number of exciting international, African and local collaborations are featured on the album, which makes sense if you want to have an album with different influences and one that will take you to places. Their choice of collaborations is amazing, I loved what Nomad and Llloyd Cele brought to the album, these two artists brought immense soul and texture to the project.
The album is graced with the musician mastery of world-class artists like Denny Lalouette on bass (Josh Groban, Leo Sayer, Chris de Burgh, Shirley Bassey, Andy Narell (American steel drum player), Demis Roussos, Patrizio Buanne, Michael Gibbs (British arranger), Joe Henderson (American jazz saxophonist), Trevor Rabin, (Dana Winner) and Brendan Ross on sax (who played for the legend Johnny Clegg)
One of the elements I liked is how gracefully they handled cover songs on the album. There are some songs that you don’t truly appreciate until another artist takes it on and makes it their own. Often times the newer version draws out the original’s complexities in a way you never would have noticed before. Or maybe the first version is equally compelling, but the cover artist reimagined it with such grandeur that many don’t even realize that it’s a new take on an old song. I enjoyed their cover of Shakira’s 2010 hit, ‘Waka Waka’, perfectly executed.
My Top 3 Tracks:
1. Keep Moving ft Lloyd Cele
2. Dream ft Butera
3. Volare
Least favourites:
1. Fabel (live)
2. I’ll tell me ma
3. Thunderstruck
STARSTRUCK is available for purchase via various digital platforms. Hard copies of the album can be bought at their many public gigs, ordered online at http://ch2.bigcartel.com otherwise by clicking the “Shop” button on CH2’s website.
Review by Thabang Nteso
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