Woove staff writer Miles Ellenberg reviews the new release from Gannin Arnold, Not From Here (2010).

Gannin Arnold is making a name for himself in the realm of instrumental rock and solo guitar with the release of his first album titled Not From Here (2010).  Written, recorded, and produced by Arnold, Not From Here is more than just a guitar player’s paradise; it’s a well-rounded album with equally worthy backing musicianship.  This should come as no surprise, because Arnold pulled together an all-star group of musicians to help him along the way.  Behind the scenes, Arnold has been active in the industry as a songwriter, studio musician, and even tour member with a full list of artists, most notably Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins’ band “Taylor Hawkins and The Coattail Riders.”  Including players from Jane’s Addiction, The Smashing Pumpkins, and King Crimson, Not From Here is the product of Arnold as a band leader for the first time.

The album is dominantly rock mixed with blues and fusion, and most tracks revolve around a guitar, bass, and drums trio.  The bass and drums are phenomenal, but Arnold always leads the pack.  Whether playing a far-out, noisy solo, or holding an essential riff or melody, his presence rarely goes unnoticed.  The title track serves as a good album opener, and it summarizes some of the music later to come.  Starting with a simple, hard-rock progression, Arnold waits a few measures before stepping in with his strong melody.  Soon a well-timed riff brings the players together for a quick chorus, and then it’s right back into another take on Arnold’s guitar.  Like the rest of the album, the backing musicians show their ability to take a simple groove and put their own touches on it without stealing the spotlight.   Arnold’s guitar work isn’t too flashy either – he often takes a more soulful approach, showing off his chops only when needed. 

Just over halfway through Not From Here, the song “El Niño” shows that Arnold is more than just a badass guitarist; he proves to be a great leader/songwriter, too.  “El Niño” revolves around a fast medley of tightly organized, progressive-like riffs, where backing musicians go to town with some of the most fun bass lines and drum arrangements on the album.  It also features the album’s only trumpet appearance. 

Most songs on the album are up-beat with the exception of a few slow tracks, such as “No Words,” “Blue Ship,” and “America.”  What doesn’t change from song to song is the governing lead guitar.  Even in softer tunes, the melodies are uplifting and bring as much emotion as you can have without lyrics.  Arnold puts color into his guitar work, giving it a powerful voice in every song.  His unique talent really shows on the outro track “Outside,” where he makes some of the most beautiful, one of a kind sounds with his guitar, all complimenting the atypically-timed melody and progression. 

From this album alone, Arnold has earned a standing with modern virtuosos like Joe Satriani and Steve Vai.  The only difference: Not From Here is an easy listen and doesn’t feature any in-your-face, unnecessary, play-as-fast-as-you-can just to do it solos.  Not From Here is a must for any musician.  Gannin Arnold has proven that he can play and write music, and he can guide a broad group of musicians to bring out the best sound possible.  There’s no doubt that Arnold has the ability to bud outside of his background role in the industry, and hopefully he will continue to bring the world a new face and sound.