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Jack Broad: Current

By Ian Patterson
March 25, 2009
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The technological revolution is seeing ever more musicians recording and producing music themselves, thus threatening the predatory species known as big labels with extinction. Jack Broad is one such musician, and his independent debut, Current, was written, programmed, played, recorded, mixed and produced by the guitarist in little more than a year.

Broad is a guitarist with great chops and an approach to the guitar that is as much informed by the blues-rock of

Jimi Hendrix

guitar, electric
1942 - 1970

Broad uses sprinklings of spacey effects to conjure large sonic horizons on the intro, "Realm," which also features passing tabla beats and a drum 'n bass rhythm. The beat segues into the title track where the melody, presented by Broad's guitar, is carried along on a repeating keyboard scale. He develops his solo without loitering and displays clean, fluid lines which never abandon the melody.

One of the most satisfying aspects of Current is its variety of musical textures. "Swamp Witch" lays down an ominous bass groove, out of which Broad produces a grinding, blues-rock solo that barks, howls and spits before returning to the depths of the swamp. There is an epic quality to the brief "Rise and Shine," and Broad's long, crying notes suggest Pink Floyd's David Gilmour playing the soundtrack to the film Blade Runner (1982).

As impressive as his guitar playing is, programming and keyboards share center-stage, and Broad even sets his guitar to the side on "Never Coming Back," the second-longest track on Current. The pretty keyboard riff, big drum beat and darkly anthemic synth melody could almost be a wordless creation of The Cure, and is a highlight of the album.

A churning bass sound, almost didgeridoo-like, anchors "Emanations," the most overtly jazz-like number on the disc. Broad solos in a refined, melodic manner which, on a superficial level, is suggestive of