It would not be sufficient to say that Lars Bech Pilgaard plays guitar. He uses guitar (often guitars, plural) to create music. Imagine an abstract Dirty Three, and you're getting there.

Lars Bech Pilgaard Folklórica 2xLP (momeatdad records)

Pilgaard frequently creates guitar sounds that have a violin or cello character. I don't think he's bowing his axe, but he's definitely subjecting the strings to some serious use. The pieces on this set are even more experimental and drone-like than much of his other work (which is hardly conventional). This is the most inventive I've heard him, and that's saying something.

There's also a documentary video into the making of the album so you can see how he creates these wild ruminations. Most of the time I wouldn't bother with something like that, but this one is fascinating, and it truly enhances the appreciation of the music.

Perhaps I'm not describing this enough. In fact, I know I'm not. Words aren't much use. Nothing on this album sounds like a guitar, and yet it all is. Most will stare incoherently into the abyss when they come across a snatch of sound from this album, but those who wander the frontiers of music will be entranced.

Jon Worley