Steve Gunn and James Elkington.
Steve Gunn is a New York-based guitarist and songwriter. With a career spanning nearly fifteen years, Steve has produced volumes of critically acclaimed solo, duo, and ensemble recordings on labels such as Matador Records, Three Lobed Recordings, Paradise of Bachelors, and RVNG. His albums represent milestones of contemporary guitar-driven material, and forward thinking song writing. Steve has steadily processed his inspirations into a singular, virtuosic stream. Close listening reveals the influence of blues, folk, ecstatic free jazz, and psych in his continually unfolding output.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUHuUsjgdjU
James Elkington, a British-born, Chicago-based guitarist known for his refined playing and collaborations with artists like Jeff Tweedy and Joan Shelley, explores new creative terrain in his latest album Me Neither. After scrapping plans for a solo instrumental guitar album, Elkington turned to daily improvisations, resulting in a record that blends his folk roots with experimental textures and found sounds. The album features unconventional elements—looping melodies, environmental noise, and ambient layering—creating an expansive, dreamlike soundscape. While largely instrumental, Me Neither reflects the introspective beauty and emotional nuance Elkington is known for, culminating in pieces like his haunting cover of ABBA’s “The Winner Takes It All.”