Apeshifter – Apeshifter II

Label: Brainstorm Records
Releasedate: 29-03-2019

Jeff Aug is an American guitaristliving in Germany. Some people know him as ‘Solo Acoustic Instrumental Fingerstyle Guitarist’ but with Apeshifter he focusses on making instrumental rock. He now releases a second album under that name called: “Apeshifter II”.

Soundwise looking back to the 70’s and early 80’s the guys have a wide playfield to create their music. The album seems cheerful at first, a jolly atmosphere and a relaxed way of playing gives the listener not too much trouble, but it must be said that an instrumental album like this is often mainly for them purists to enjoy. It’s mellow tempo makes it able to put this on as a background sound as well as you can enjoy it when listening with a bit more attention. The latter will give you the opportunity to grasp the plentyful details that are embedded in their sound.
The songs are becoming a bit of a unity after a while. Do we really hear the same thing going by again, a template that we seen before. The variation could have been a bit wilder to keep the listener with it.

The very last song on the album contains vocals. Executed quite well, perhaps for a next one it vould be an idea to put these somewhere in between the tracklist to break it up a bit. Furthermore we can say it is a fine release. Skills are there, but with some attention to these mentioned points it would become a topper.

Line up:

• Jeff Aug – guitar 
• Kurty Münch – drums 
• Florian Walter – bass

1. Gravity
2. Haskett
3. Mask Of The Ancient Warrior
4. Shoegazer
5. American Eagle
6. 7 Years Fat & 7 Years lean
7. Die Rausschmeißer
8. Fu Manchu
9. 8 Shot
10. No Chords Allowed Jonathan
11. Steven Avery Is Innocent
12. Jiggy Jiggy Boom Boom
13. Matilda

Links:

Official