Music: Roy Montgomery – Scenes From The South Island (1995 Reissue)

Roy Montgomery is a legendary New Zealand composer, guitarist and lecturer who, back in 1995, released his debut album titled Scenes From The South Island. It’s an atmospheric and meditative album full of captivating and truly mesmeric moments. It has finally been reissued and re-released on vinyl, and it’s a pleasure to revisit this classic.

Where do I start with it? It’s just the mood and chillingly beautiful atmosphere Roy is able to create through his guitar grooves that’s just so amazing to me. Whether that’s through the warm opener “Along The Main Divide” or on the 10 minute stunner “Twilight Conversation,” there’s something genuinely haunting and stunning that translates through all of the tracks on this album. The electric guitar arpeggios on “Escape Velocity” are captivating, while the slight rumbling on “The Last Kakapo Dreams Of Flying” is another stellar highlight. “Hollyford Valley Day 1,” Hollyford Valley Day 2″ and “Hollyford Valley Day 3” did not appear on the original recordings, but they beautifully capture a darker, more uneasy side to his musical experiments, as well as a lighter, more ethereal side. They provide a fitting ending to this classic album. Overall, this is a stellar body of work that proves and cements Roy Montgomery’s legend status among guitarists. Scenes From The South Island is a classic.

Listen to Roy Montgomery’s 1995 classic Scenes From The South Island below via Bandcamp and don’t forget to support! Reissued by Yellow Electric.