Eric Mantel The Unstruck Melody CD Review

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Eric Mantel's  The Unstruck Melody CD Review - by Scott Thomas

I was lucky enough to cross paths with Eric Mantel and his awe inspiring music. Eric crosses all boundaries and genres of music. His flawless guitar playing takes you places emotionally and physically. If you not stomping your feet to his rockers, then your feeling his ballads through his vocals and mysterious acoustical guitar playing. I think this is a great concept album. I haven’t been moved by a concept album in years. Do you remember Extreme’s III Sides to Every Story epic album? Eric’s Album has those same qualities. Eric Mantel is one of those people who just oozes creativity and virtuosity.

Eric was kind enough to send me his CD for a review and I gratefully inclined to do so. I will be giving you a full review of each song in the First Act. There are 9 more songs in the Second Act and I’ll leave these songs for you to review yourselves.

So… here we go…

Act One

The Unstruct Melody – 3:10

Well named is the first thing that comes to mind for this intro of Act 1. Eric smartly uses the static sounds of the changing of a radio dial. Each station has a different genre of music giving you a taste of what’s to come on this wonderfully arranged long-lasting album. Perfect cruising in the car CD…

Tribute – 4:41

I’m lovin’ this fast rocker! It’s got that early Eric Johnson feel to it. However, all done in Mantel fashion. Nice clean rhythm playing with some Jeff Beck-isms in the first part of the song.  I love the bright – uplifting, snappy, chord changes.  The recording of the guitars on this track are done extremely well. The way each guitar track bounces in the mix tickling my ear drums. Very brilliant but unexpected slide guitar section. Eric’s tones on this tune are so fresh. His lead soloing on this is just flawless. Eric enhances his blazing melodic phrasing using a really cool wah pedal effect in the solo section (maybe a Bad Horsie FX). The ending comes to a backward sounding guitar crescendo. Eric’s amazes me at his surgical approach to each song. You can hear his influences and he uses that to his musical advantage to construct killer songs while maintaining his own unique sound. Can that really be done? There is no doubt that he is master of many genres.

The Simple Things – 6:36

We as humans have to remember that it is the simple things that we do in life that make a difference. Eric is very conscious of our world today and what we should learn from our past. I sometimes ask myself if there is really another force running this world. Like the Illuminati… you know, One world Order. Maybe it’s us that are on the verge of extinction. Eric conveys that maybe we should learn from our own Native Americans and our past.  Eric vocals are smooth and he harmonizes well with his back-up singers. This song has a Steely Dan / Larry Carlton feel to it. Mantel’s pleasing tenor voice is reminiscent of David Pack, Donald Fagan or Patrick Simmons. Like much of the disc it has a ‘70’s vibe, not in production, but in song writing. The soloing starts out cleanly played with some real cool jazz octave playing ala Eric Johnson or Stevie Ray’s Riviera Paradise. Eric’s Fender sounds are so sweet! Then the song gets going with some really kick-axe riffin’. Wow!!! Is all I can say!.

The Real You – 4:01

Coming in with a retro groove Doobie Brothers type rocker and ups the ante with some cool Framton-esqe talk-box type leads. This is definitely fusion set in the 70’s. However, the recording and mixing are superbly done to bring you a “blast from the past.” The musicianship is highly skilled creating wonderful texture. Mantel used a host of local musicians to aid in creating his layered effects. Don’t listen to this to loud while driving. You might get a speeding ticket!

Tai-Chi – 5:31

"Tai-Chi” is a light jazz fusion tune named after the Asian martial art of discipline. And, “discipline” is what it takes to get those clean, big and full tones that are a so delightful on my ears. Mantel moves very well from full jazz flavors with brilliant harmonics and intervals and single note runs into a rock inspired romp. This song goes from a George Benson type jazz to a Steve Vai induced lead frenzy of sounds. Yes, Eric does enter into the mouth of madness intermittingly on occasion. I say…. Yeah baby, let your freak flag fly!

Shine On – 3:52

This jazzy oriented pop rock tune has those Steve Howe-like elements (the band “Yes”) in it. This song is progressive pop rock oriented. The music is uplifting and very FM savvy sounding. Now this is the music you need to listen to when you’re driving to work on Monday mornings. The music will motivate you for the rest of the day… period!

Under a Different Light – 4:15

It starts one way and then charges off into another. Really mellow at first with mysterious sounding smooth rhythm acoustic guitars (elements here of Al Dimeola). The tune takes a different arrangement towards the last part of the song around 2:44 with some kick-ass ala Brian Adams big guitar jamming leaving you tapping your feet and wanting more.  

Merry-Go-Round - 4:11

Now this song takes me back to the early day of the band “Yes”. This is a keyboard influenced track with some tasty lead playing.  This vocal driven track definitely has its lyrical hooks and nicely arranged back ground vocals. “Merry-Go-Round, spinning round and a round. Ferris wheel of life, always always up or down.”

Why So Lonely – 4:06

Church Bells too? This song could be the sound track to a Disney production. Actually, I was thinking of an animated scene with Cinderella sitting in a candle-lite room crying she’s so lonely. It’s very contemporary sounding. The vocals and lyrics are sung and written very well (where ELP meets Yes). Inspirational all the way!

Exit 10 – 3:42

This has Steve Howe / Steve Morse all over it! There are a lot of snazzy guitar licks on this one as you can imagine. This tune hops along with awesome guitar textures and kick-ass percussions.

Intermission – 0:45

Arabic Sitar drivin’ track – no vocals. Nicely done.

I give this album a “10” all across the board. If you are a guitarist, this album needs to be in your collection.  Get Inspired Again! - Riffmaster