Spencer Elliott revs up his forthcoming album SE3 with the new single and video Torque — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
For SE3, out April 8, West Virginia prog-rock acoustic guitar visionary Elliott is joined by Sean Sydnor (bass) and Chris Hudson (drums) for illuminating instrumental tour-de-force. Throughout this vibrant new release, Spencer and co. throw convention to the wind, opting to stir up a wholly unique gumbo of musical layers, drawing equally from prog rock, metal, funk, acoustic, experimental and neo-classical influences. Fans of artists as varied as Animals As Leaders, Liquid Tension Experiment and Tool should enjoy this.
The fourth release from prolific guitarist Elliott, SE3 comes with a mission. Drawing from the intricate compositional world of progressive finger-style from which Spencer emanates, SE3 strips the genre to its elemental core and reconstructs it using time-tested pillars of prog-rock, funk, metal and neo-classical to assemble a sophisticated playground of musical arrangement, constructed perfectly for the trio’s musicians to shine.
Assembled with the core ingredients of traditional rock ’n’ roll — guitar, bass, and drums — the album tests the limits of those ingredients, not only in composition but in genre. SE3 lives in its finger-style roots, but aims to explore, invade, and transform into a sound both familiar and completely new. Performed by three musicians who are masters of their individual crafts, SE3 is a masterpiece of give and take, ebb and flow.
Elliott began composing instrumental music on piano growing up in West Virginia, influenced by composers like George Winston. He later picked up guitar, bringing punk and progressive music into mix. For more than two decades, he performed as vocalist and occasional guitarist in punk and alternative bands. It wasn’t until 2007 that Spencer turned his focus to progressive steel-string guitar. Pulling from his piano background and his affinity for edgier guitar music, his compositions contain rich melodic and percussive landscapes that put his contrasting influences on full display.
Watch Torque above, hear the track below, and catch up with Spencer Elliott at his website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
