This is not the Little Mermaid (who also was named Ariel), just in case you got confused. It is a great thing to hear up-and-coming guitarists in their own creative style of music. Canadian Ariel Posen is one of those guitarists who although not universally known, definitely has great talent and ability as a guitarist. This album is the first of two album releases that showcase his unique and excellent talent as a guitarist. Notably, Ariel has stated some of his unusual but special musical approaches in interviews, which are worth reading about. This is his fourth studio album overall as well. How does it sound? Let’s find out.

Begin Again begins with some interesting and moody Fender-styled Blues pickup guitar playing, with some neat slide guitar thrown into the mix for good measure. This is very suspenseful and different sounding, just sounding really great for what it is. A very interesting instrumental, this sounds quite unlike anything else out there today. No vocals, drums or electronic textures, just smooth guitar playing is present in this tune. It sounds like soul food to listen to, likely because it is. A really great listening experience nonetheless, Ariel Posen has chops indeed. A really great listen, although guitar-only instrumentals are not for everyone. The mixture of nicely fretted notes and slide guitar is fantastic, however. This is a good piece of music that wraps up just four minutes in length. Sweet.

Tumble Away begins with an acoustic guitar playing that is reminiscent of Nick Drake’s playing. It sounds deep and introspective as a result. The chops by Ariel Posen are very fluid, and he definitely can play very nicely on these songs. A really great listening experience is present here, provided that you love guitar-based instrumentals. The music is forward-thinking and has some relaxing vibes about it all. The fingerpicked acoustic guitar sounds extremely enjoyable and descriptively beautiful on this track. Ariel Posen plays unlike any other guitarist, and he cements his legacy well on instrumentals such as these. This is guitar-based music that one can meditate on. A very enjoyable and interesting piece of acoustic mastercraft, this ends just before four minutes in length. Great.

After The Rain begins with some interesting slide guitar that sounds very strange. This sounds deep and dark and is a very unusual listening experience throughout. Ariel Posen explores the depths of human emotions with his guitar playing, and although this album is just him on guitar, it sounds very dark. A very strange listening experience is present here, and this is somewhat an acquired taste musically. Still, Ariel Posen plays very well on this tune. No need for flashy techniques such as shredding or a bunch of pedals, Ariel Posen prefers the music to speak for itself. Still, this sounds super amazing and nicely played for what it is. The playing throughout this tune is unusual, albeit a dark listen, this is guitar instrumentals for those of you who desire to hear them. Top-notch regardless, this winds down gradually after over four minutes in length and finishes well.

One Oh One is a subtle reference to the George Orwell novel 1984, which is a great fictional read. It begins with some interesting guitar work and sounds very pleasant. This is still purely a guitar-based instrumental though. Yes, Ariel Posen has chops but this sort of music can really only appeal to those out there who like guitars alone. Good, however, Ariel Posen plays very well on this tune. He sounds really great throughout, and his knowledge of melodies and original playing sound superb. Utilising original techniques and a variety of pickup positions on the electric guitar, this music sounds excellent for what it is. A very pretty and uplifting sort of tune, there are some dramatic guitar leads throughout. Towards the end, this sounds crazily good and puts Arien Posen into a category of his own. It ends after four minutes in length.

Royal sounds deep and dark for an acoustic piece. It is a mellow and laidback sort of listen, in that particular mold. This piece is noticeably shorter, but it does sound good for what it is. Unfortunately, this album is just guitar based instrumentals and has a very limited appeal as such. Still, Ariel Posen definitely has chops. This music however has very limited appeal. Despite that, Ariel Posen’s unique talent and playing on the guitar is really awesome to hear. It sounds wonderful because it is a skilful and sweet effort of music and musicianship. A good instrumental, but probably not outstandingly great. Nonetheless, this ends just before four minutes have passed. It’s okay.

Clawhammer begins with some overdriven slide guitar and sounds very ordinary. It is not what we should be hearing from a guy like Ariel Posen. This immediately drags the album down and sounds trite. You should likely skip this tune, it is not worth your time whatsoever. This is not impressive for a solo guitar-based instrumental. It could have been done so much better instead. The music and musicianship are a real letdown. If you want some great slide guitar playing, check out Ry Cooder or Little Feat, not this garbage. The melodies and playing on this tune are quite awful. The second half is somewhat more frenetic, yet still sounds off. Regardless, this music is not worth it. Stevie Ray Vaughan did better instrumentals than this junk. It also goes on for far too long at over four minutes in length, just for a solo instrumental piece. Once you reach the end of this nonsense, you can breathe a huge sigh of relief and vow to yourself that you never will hear such garbage again.

Borrowed Time begins with some more slide guitar, and sounds rather off like the previous track as well. Seriously dude, why? It is at least semi-listenable, but the damage of this album has been done. The cleaner sounds on this tune make it somewhat more listenable, but all the same, polishing a poor product does not assist the process of making an album great. In any case, Ariel Posen needs to ensure that he works harder on his music in the future. A weird tune and something very forgettable, this is not what one would wish to hear at all. The appeal of off-sounding guitar instrumentals wears off by this time. A very off-putting and weird listening experience musically, Ariel Posen is quite clearly a no-name artist who will remain that way, sadly. In any case, if you are not a huge fan, do hit stop and go and do something else for a change. This is a slight improvement but that in itself is not that great. It is also too long for such a simple song, being nearly five minutes in length. A genuine drag and this is very uninspiring. It ends after forever.

Day 17 is a brighter and more pleasant listen. Again, this album has worn out its appeal by this point. This shorter piece does sound better, however, and it is a more concise and better-delivered guitar instrumental with some pretty playing. In any case, even if some of the music on this album is a big letdown, this is okay to hear. The chops and playing by Ariel Posen are really nice to hear on this song. Consistency is key on such an album, and Ariel Posen shows that his catalogue is inconsistent at best. This has a little hint of melancholy within the music, and this is largely forgettable as a tune. In any case, this is not the greatest guitar instrumentalist present alive today, either. This tune gradually begins to wrap up just before four minutes in length. It is good but far from being great.

Four Corners begins with more off-sounding guitar parts (tune your guitar, man!) and sounds really horrid. There is nothing worthwhile here, and this is appalling listening. Ariel Posen is not the hope that one has for 21st-century guitar music to make a comeback. Instead, this sounds genuinely awful. A really bad example of regular and slide guitar work, this just makes one want to hit the stop button immediately. A poor listening experience throughout. If you want to hear some soulful guitar playing, check out Pink Floyd rather than this garbage. A lame and poor-sounding piece of music, this is genuinely a good example of why Rock Music is not that popular anymore today. It’s okay at best, and horrible at worst. Guitar-based music has been done far better than this, and musically it is a drag. The Rolling Stones do better slide guitar work than this tune, and that alone says something. It ends after four and a half minutes. Not good.

Backseat Driver begins with some drop-tuned guitar, which already does not sound overly impressive. This is a longer piece at over five minutes in length. Nothing amazing or special on this track, it sounds very dirge-like. Ariel Posen would be best off not bothering with such awful instrumentals. Sadly, this is to the contrary. The combination of drop tuning, overdrive and slide guitar does not make a solid musical point. It is oddly bad. There is little purpose in listening to this album by this point, the content in the second half of the album is filler. Many other artists and groups out there are worth your ears, just not Ariel Posen. This is a very poor example of slide guitar work and is an A Grade exhibit of why one should not play slide guitar. It sounds horrible because it is. This overly long-tune is absolute junk. There is nothing worthwhile achieved by listening to it. If you are shaking your head at this rubbish, you are not alone. In any case, this music drags on well past its welcome and eventually winds down to a quieter ending section. Even so, this is no excuse for garbage of this magnitude being on anyone’s album. Awful.

Mile End is the final track on this very poor album. It has some subdued guitar parts, and sounds again, unimpressive. Less wannabe slide guitar and more melodic playing on guitar without a slide would have been better in retrospect. In any case, this is the closing tune and it’s okay, just not sensational. In fact, this is enough to put one to sleep. Fortunately, this is only around three and a half minutes long, so it is fairly listenable. Most Rap Music these days is far better than this, which says a lot. In any case, this solo piece that is unexceptional goes on for too long. It eventually wraps up, and you will be glad when it does. Disappointing, to say the least.

This is a failure of an album that could have sadly been so much better, especially given how good the first half of the album is, with the second half being downright disappointing. Ariel Posen has chops, he just doesn’t have the music to go along with it. Therefore this album is not outright recommended for solo guitar instrumentals and is an A Grade example of why not to use a slide on an electric guitar. Should you listen to this album? Please don’t, you can find better guitar work elsewhere.

Very disappointing.

4/10