Drawing on influences from his Scandinavian roots as well as music from various parts of the world, Fred Kinbom's very personal brand of music and approach to the lap steel guitar, along with his strong sense of melody, has won him many fans across the globe. People often comment that it's refreshing to hear lap steel music that is "not the usual slide stuff". "Soulful" and "unique" are other words uttered more than once by listeners, and Fred being mentioned in the new book Slide Rules (about slide guitar tunings) alongside lap steel pioneers and legends is a great acknowledgment that he has brought something new to the slide guitar table.
"Hedgehogs & Elephants" is Fred's debut full-length lap sliding CD, and it contains twelve beautiful tunes that serve well to showcase his unique style. Most songs are based around Fred's lap steel guitar - mainly acoustic Weissenborns - and soulful voice, and he is joined by a great bunch of guest musicians on instruments such as double bass, percussion, accordion, drums, fiddle and steel drum.
Recorded deep down underground in the heart of Stockholm, in a Moroccan-style hut in a Lewes garden, on the edge of Fred's bed, out in the lush Sussex countryside and onboard a German train; mixed in summery suburban Stockholm and mastered deep inside the forest up in the hills of Santa Cruz, California - now it's all condensed into a little shiny disc, resting in a nice digipack sleeve, anxious for you to have a listen!
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