Mortal Prophets, the post-punk project of New York City, USA-based John Beckmann, has featured on this blog a few times now, most recently through his album The Twang Gang (Live in Berlin) in October last year. Just before 2023 came to an end, he released another album, showing a different side to his sound. It’s called GUITARWORKS.
By Graeme Smith
With his latest album, John presents to us ten ambient, mostly instrumental tracks that explore different aspects of the human journey, opening with Ascension. It’s a minimal start, with isolated, echoing guitar notes setting the early atmosphere before the composition grows slowly richer, arriving at an understatedly complex conclusion.
Topanga Canyon gives us a little bluesy Americana while staying stripped-back and ambient. All Around Us is suitably all-encompassing, burning with long, lingering bass notes and layers of electronica. Constellations invites us into the stratosphere with its otherworldly distorted chords. It’s a highlight.
Trepidation brings with it a subtle bit of rock and roll during a textured two minutes. Martian Daydreams returns us to outer space while introducing a sense of distress from somewhere in the cosmos (or perhaps from within). Luminescent combines plucked guitar with a sense of the exotic. Snatches of expressive vocals make it another highlight.
Aurora is a warm and bright moment. It smoulders with an inviting gentleness. Volk Folk brings with it a dizzying mix of sci-fi synths and percussive grooves. Numinous closes the album with a track that slowly simmers before boiling over into a pacey rock riff. It’s a final highlight.
There are few artists out there with the audacity and range that Mortal Prophets has. Each new release brings with it a surprise as John and team continue to push genre boundaries. GUITARWORKS is simply a joy to listen to.
GUITARWORKS features the backing vocals of Dämmerungschor and was recorded at Lux Astralis Studios in New York. You can give it a listen below.