*2026 stock. 15 copies limited edition* In just 22 minutes, Steve Touchton redefines what a solo guitar record can and should be. The brilliance of 'Guitar Recordings V' lies in Touchton's ability to completely liberate themself from the inherited legacy of the instrument, discovering an entirely new perspective on both the guitar and the amplifier it resonates through. The opener, 'Apparitions,' features ghostly chimes that resemble the timbral scope of a prepared piano, subtly frosted with radio static. In 'Shadows,' Touchton crafts a haunted gamelan motif from freakishly detuned strings that rattle like strung bones on the fretboard. The closing piece, 'Disentangle,' is one of the rare moments where a recognizable electric guitar emerges, albeit struggling to escape its mournful detuned state—a sound that Scott Walker might have found welcome home for on 'The Drift.' 

Tracks like 'Weathered,' 'Like So,' and 'Looming' showcase Touchton's surgical focus on amplifier and pedal settings, examining the musiciality of broken-sounding modulated fuzz achieved through a simple set of tools. These sounds often evoke what would otherwise be serious warning signs of imminent malfunction, fire and electrocution. But despite their intensity, these pieces hover just below the threshold of ear-rupturing noise, allowing listeners to acclimate to the auditory terror and begin to see the source of Touchton’s fascination.

To label this collection of songs as mere experiments would be a disservice to the clarity of Touchton's vision, shaped by their studies in music composition at CalArts under the guidance of Ulrich Krieger, Michael Pisaro-Liu, Wadada Leo Smith and Mark Trayle. There are no riffs or expensive pedalboards full of boutique guitar effects to hide behind. Instead, the guts of the guitar and amplifier are laid bare on the operating table, with Touchton asking what new and beautiful sounds can be created from their broken, damaged forms’ - David McLean