ANDREW CHESHIRE, GUITAR NOIR

ANDREW CHESHIRE takes his acoustic guitar on a solo journey down quiet avenues and through mysterious corridors on the very haunting GUITAR NOIR (Joule 5). His playing rings out with astounding clarity as he pensively dissects each tune with the precision of a surgeon. Despite some recognizable titles, all the songs are his compositions, and he makes a very introspective analysis of a deeper meaning hidden within each of them (Guitar Noir/ Drama/ Beating Heart/ The Riddle/ Poem/ The Chase/ Mysteruioso/ Shadows/ Catwalk/ Journey/ Quiet Rain/ Introspection/ Farewell/ Guitar Noir. 40:46. 2/8/01 Pittston Pa).

Cheshire is attempting to paint aural pictures through his playing, and the scenes are typically not light of heart. It is not exactly a brooding persona that he suggests, but the seriousness and concentration of his probing casts melancholy shadows across the performance. Through his reflective explorations, he communicates his inner feelings and contemplative mind. The pieces range from short snippets to more elongated communiques, but they all have the common denominator of abstract meditation and reverie threading through them. Cheshire transmits his calming state of mind on the listener, who is able to glide gently into his inner world of ebonized beauty. The descent is quite tranquilizing.

Frank Rubolino- Cadence, June 2002