Think of one-man band. Kick away the stereotype vision. Replace with Solo Elektro, Gwyn Ashton replete with attitude, fuzz, distortion and psychedelic attack. The electric guitar twists up the foundation of the blues with rock and his special application of slide and raw energy that explodes out of the speakers to the left and right of you. The eleven tracks taking you on a journey as we step aboard with a Metaphysical Journey that opens and closes the album. The song has hooks that capture the power of the Beatles, infused into Gwyn’s eclectic and very personal approach to the music he plays. The energy is raw and edged with a hint of danger and if we continue on the path it will be too late to turn around. The guitar work is complex, full of licks, sonic distortions and the power of effects as the award-winning Australian squeezes every ounce of blues and rock juice out of the instrument. He begs the six strings to deliver just that little bit more. There is nothing subtle about Gwyn’s approach it has a raucous appeal as metal grinds with an originality turning the blues almost black. The energy is ground out of the riffs, licks and rhythmic beats until nothing is left hanging in the air. Recorded not in a traditional studio, nor capturing a live show; the inspiration came to Gwyn amidst a tour, so setting up a mobile studio, scattering the microphones around the room. The outcome is not orderly but a chaotic den of creativity captured in a Czech Republic hotel room. The raw tapes were mixed by Mick Wordley at Mixmasters Studio in South Australia. He shaped the album so it is modern and at times brutal in its honesty. This is solo musicianship redefined. One-man band has gone electric-powered playing rock-blues with the sharp edge of metal. Grunge colliding with the back porch slide guitar as Dawn of Tomorrow demonstrates. The vocals are never lost the individual shades of the instruments are never blurred as the crisp in your face music is laid before you. With a huge kick drum beat, sonic distortion and turbo charged vocals Shine Lover Shine has kerb appeal as does the whole album that never slows or loses energy. Ballads and simple melodic riffs have also stepped aboard Gwyn Ashton’s latest album Solo Elektro. Closing out with a reprise of the opening track we have completed the journey through Gwyn’s inventive mind sweep of one man band music aboard an interesting psychedelic magic carpet ride. The journey is full of complexities, sonics that challenges your ear deftly combined with Gwyn Ashton’s sharp musical wit and timing. One thing for sure this Marmite album from a one man band has a broad range of in your face rocking blues with complex sonic sounds that never makes the mistake of falling into the pit of self-indulgence.