Matteo Mancuso – Route 96
There are certain guitarists who emerge and take the instrument to new levels with innovative techniques, a sense of melody, lightning fast runs and licks, a range of guitar sounds.
Sicilian six-stringer Matteo Mancuso is standing on the shoulders of such giants (Beck, Hendrix, Holdsworth, Di Meola, Van Halen, et al) but he is also recognised as bringing more to the guitar party by some of the world’s best, including Tommy Emmanuel, Tosin Abasi, the aforementioned Al Di Meola and Steve Vai.
The latter appears on 'Solar Wind,' the opening number of Mancuso’s second solo album Route 96 (named after his year of birth and the 96kHz audio sample rate Steve Vai recommended he record at).
As the slow burn 'Solar Wind' picks up speed you get the first glimpses of Mancuso’s lightning-fast runs and solo parts over the top of a very impressive chord sequence. Steve Vai, for his not insignificant part, announces his entrance with his trademark use of tremolo arm and pinch harmonics.
It's not all about the guitars however, and the rhythm section of Riccardo Oliva (bass) and Gianluca Pellerito (drums) are fusion-rock solid.
Following number 'Fire And Harmony' opens with hints of gypsy jazz before making way for a dual guitar part. A master-class in dynamics, the number then drops to an acoustic melody line; the tension builds before dropping once more, as Matteo Mancuso heads off into a peerless acoustic solo.
An electric part then takes centre stage, and the intensity of the solo is astonishing (among Mancuso’s arsenal of techniques is a vibrato which is second to none).
'Isla Feliz,' featuring acclaimed gypsy jazz guitarist Antoine Boyer, is an acoustic driven, major key number with a memorable melody hook.
A Latin vibed tune with jaunty rhythm parts, an accomplished acoustic solo from Antoine Boyer leads to an electric solo from Matteo Mancuso (again, the precision and flawless technique is astonishing).
It’s also worth mentioning that Mancuso employs a fingerstyle technique rarely used on electric guitar.
Almost flamenco-like, he utilises all four fingers to generate the speed and precision a plectrum never could.
Sicilian six-stringer Matteo Mancuso is standing on the shoulders of such giants (Beck, Hendrix, Holdsworth, Di Meola, Van Halen, et al) but he is also recognised as bringing more to the guitar party by some of the world’s best, including Tommy Emmanuel, Tosin Abasi, the aforementioned Al Di Meola and Steve Vai.
The latter appears on 'Solar Wind,' the opening number of Mancuso’s second solo album Route 96 (named after his year of birth and the 96kHz audio sample rate Steve Vai recommended he record at).
As the slow burn 'Solar Wind' picks up speed you get the first glimpses of Mancuso’s lightning-fast runs and solo parts over the top of a very impressive chord sequence. Steve Vai, for his not insignificant part, announces his entrance with his trademark use of tremolo arm and pinch harmonics.
It's not all about the guitars however, and the rhythm section of Riccardo Oliva (bass) and Gianluca Pellerito (drums) are fusion-rock solid.
Following number 'Fire And Harmony' opens with hints of gypsy jazz before making way for a dual guitar part. A master-class in dynamics, the number then drops to an acoustic melody line; the tension builds before dropping once more, as Matteo Mancuso heads off into a peerless acoustic solo.
An electric part then takes centre stage, and the intensity of the solo is astonishing (among Mancuso’s arsenal of techniques is a vibrato which is second to none).
'Isla Feliz,' featuring acclaimed gypsy jazz guitarist Antoine Boyer, is an acoustic driven, major key number with a memorable melody hook.
A Latin vibed tune with jaunty rhythm parts, an accomplished acoustic solo from Antoine Boyer leads to an electric solo from Matteo Mancuso (again, the precision and flawless technique is astonishing).
It’s also worth mentioning that Mancuso employs a fingerstyle technique rarely used on electric guitar.
Almost flamenco-like, he utilises all four fingers to generate the speed and precision a plectrum never could.
'L.A. Blues One' pretty much does what it says on the tin.
A bright and breezy coastal driving number, 'L.A. Blues' also features a nod to Jeff Beck in one of the solo sections (in the live setting Matteo Mancuso delivers a great version of 'Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers').
'The Great Wall' is almost a companion piece to the title track of debut album The Journey.
Impeccably played, Riccardo Oliva & Gianluca Pellerito get to shine on this one (Oliva’s bass playing is very impressive on this number).
Approximately half way through there is a slow-build towards Matteo Mancuso’s solo, where he makes good use of a whammy bar (although not to the extremes of Vai) before dropping to the introductory melodic part.
The laid back and jazzy 'Warm Sunset' sports some deft use of harmonics in the melody part.
A rhythmically interesting number, Matteo Mancuso’s solo is tastefully delivered and played with some restraint (with a few flourishes, of course).
Some use of retro flanger and chorus, on bass and guitar respectively, further colours this number.
'Black Centurion' ups the ante and reveals the rockier side of the band, complete with some excellent unison riffing and unexpected stops/time changes.
A highlight of an extremely well-produced album (recorded at Fico D’India Studios in Casteldaccia, Italy and produced by Matteo Mancuso and his father Vincenzo), 'Black Centurion' is a heady blend of rock-fusion, funk and jazz with superior lead guitar over the top. A sonic delight.
'In the Morning Light' opens with acoustic guitar before an electric picks out the melody in this laid back, delightful piece.
To go from the intensity and fusion ferocity of the previous number illustrates the breadth of abilities (and sheer musicality) of Matteo Mancuso and his band.
The album is rounded off by a breakneck speed version of funk instrumental 'The Chicken,' most famously covered by Jaco Pastorius.
Featuring Russian multi-instrumentalist Valeriy Stepanov on keys, this is Matteo Mancuso and band with the reins off, with each member given the opportunity to show off their chops. There is a drop to half time for part of a Matteo Mancuso solo, but it’s mostly played at a high tempo by all concerned. Great stuff.
With an abundance of talent and a skill-set only a few can match, Matteo Mancuso, who also has a considerable social media presence, will inevitably become an influence on the next generation of players, just as he has made an impression on the current generation of luminaries.
Get your Mancuso kicks on Route 96.
Nelson McFarlane
FabricationsHQ
Route 96 will be released 24th April via Music Theories Recordings
Pre-save/ pre-order at: https://lnk.to/matteomancuso
Vinyl/ CD: https://www.mascotlabelgroup.com/collections/matteo-mancuso
Matteo Mancuso will play two dates in the UK in May, including his first ever Scottish show in Glasgow.
Wednesday, May 13th: Glasgow - Òran Mór (click here for tickets)
Thursday, May 14th: London - Islington Assembly Hall (click here for tickets)
A bright and breezy coastal driving number, 'L.A. Blues' also features a nod to Jeff Beck in one of the solo sections (in the live setting Matteo Mancuso delivers a great version of 'Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers').
'The Great Wall' is almost a companion piece to the title track of debut album The Journey.
Impeccably played, Riccardo Oliva & Gianluca Pellerito get to shine on this one (Oliva’s bass playing is very impressive on this number).
Approximately half way through there is a slow-build towards Matteo Mancuso’s solo, where he makes good use of a whammy bar (although not to the extremes of Vai) before dropping to the introductory melodic part.
The laid back and jazzy 'Warm Sunset' sports some deft use of harmonics in the melody part.
A rhythmically interesting number, Matteo Mancuso’s solo is tastefully delivered and played with some restraint (with a few flourishes, of course).
Some use of retro flanger and chorus, on bass and guitar respectively, further colours this number.
'Black Centurion' ups the ante and reveals the rockier side of the band, complete with some excellent unison riffing and unexpected stops/time changes.
A highlight of an extremely well-produced album (recorded at Fico D’India Studios in Casteldaccia, Italy and produced by Matteo Mancuso and his father Vincenzo), 'Black Centurion' is a heady blend of rock-fusion, funk and jazz with superior lead guitar over the top. A sonic delight.
'In the Morning Light' opens with acoustic guitar before an electric picks out the melody in this laid back, delightful piece.
To go from the intensity and fusion ferocity of the previous number illustrates the breadth of abilities (and sheer musicality) of Matteo Mancuso and his band.
The album is rounded off by a breakneck speed version of funk instrumental 'The Chicken,' most famously covered by Jaco Pastorius.
Featuring Russian multi-instrumentalist Valeriy Stepanov on keys, this is Matteo Mancuso and band with the reins off, with each member given the opportunity to show off their chops. There is a drop to half time for part of a Matteo Mancuso solo, but it’s mostly played at a high tempo by all concerned. Great stuff.
With an abundance of talent and a skill-set only a few can match, Matteo Mancuso, who also has a considerable social media presence, will inevitably become an influence on the next generation of players, just as he has made an impression on the current generation of luminaries.
Get your Mancuso kicks on Route 96.
Nelson McFarlane
FabricationsHQ
Route 96 will be released 24th April via Music Theories Recordings
Pre-save/ pre-order at: https://lnk.to/matteomancuso
Vinyl/ CD: https://www.mascotlabelgroup.com/collections/matteo-mancuso
Matteo Mancuso will play two dates in the UK in May, including his first ever Scottish show in Glasgow.
Wednesday, May 13th: Glasgow - Òran Mór (click here for tickets)
Thursday, May 14th: London - Islington Assembly Hall (click here for tickets)