Filip Dahl lets his instrument tell the story with his new EP that will have you reaching for your air guitar.

By Graeme Smith

Norwegian rock musician Filip Dahl has been frequently appearing on our blog since Jane first featured his music in 2020. He’s made it into her Nordic Artists round-up, as well as her Monthly Favourites. She’s even interviewed him.

Jane and I don’t always agree on the music we like, but he is certainly one of those cases that we do. His new EP is a novel affair, one in which he lets his guitar do the talking. Tales By The Singing Guitar is five tracks of electric guitar-led melodies. It’s something that has, of course, been done before – Carlos Santana is a proponent – but Filip makes the concept his own in this EP.

Flight of the Unicorn opens things in a dreamy, fantastical way. Soaring notes paint a picture against a steady, rhythmic backdrop. Filip truly lets the guitar sing, never letting up as the melody dips and soars. There is a lively, cinematic finish in which he shows off his rock chops.

Title track Tales by the Singing Guitar is punchy and upbeat with hints of psychedelia, while Elevated to a Higher Ground slows things down with a sultry and introspective moment. Turning Darkness into Light is suitably hopeful before Dreaming closes the EP with a piece that feels as meditative as it is narrative.

Beautifully played, and beautifully produced, Tales By The Singing Guitar is simply flawless. If your air guitar has been sitting around gathering dust, then this is the collection that will have you reaching for it once again.

Tales By The Singing Guitar is set for release 18 August 2024.