The Circular Train CD

This is a solo album in the true sense of the word. It's comprised solely of Ava Mendoza's raw virtuoso avant rock guitar playing and - on two tracks - her passionate voice. The Brooklyn-via-Oakland musician is also known for being a skilled collaborator, with the her band Unnatural Ways having earned a stellar reputation, but limiting the spotlight to herself alone here serves to elevate the searching, personal themes on the record. Mendoza's is famed for her virtuoso guitar technique, with lightning-quick tapping, use of feedback and tremolo up there with the best in the business. This is a melange of classical, free jazz, blues and noise, to name a few. With technique this strong, it's no wonder she's been setting the New York experimental scene alight over the past few years. And with The Circular Train - merely her second solo album - we can hope there's many more to come.