Fernando Perdomo never sleeps. Ever. How else do you explain his incredibly prolific output? He is a solo artist with a surfeit of albums under his own name. He is in bands with Dave Kerzner, Carmine Appice and Ruti Celli just to name a few. He is a multi-instrumentalist session musician, composer of film scores and a lauded producer. He has toured with Marshall Crenshaw and Jakob Dylan and Echo In The Canyon. He’s also one of the friendliest and most approachable people I have had the pleasure to speak with. As if that weren’t enough, his latest idea is to release a new Fernando Perdomo album every month in 2025.
The first installment on that promise is an all instrumental effort entitled Waves, and what a doozy it is. While the overall vibe of the album is Left Coast seventies, it also brilliantly reflects his wide ranging experience in the music industry, with rock, folk, pop, prog and jazz all melting into one singular voice.
The album opens with In The Beginning (First Wave), which initially would not sound out of place on Anthony Phillips’ Slow Dance. Soft waves of sound with a pronounced bottom end soon enough give way to something powerful and majestic with power chords and a magnificent guitar lead. While Perdomo uses any number of instruments in his formidable arsenal, the guitar is the center of attention on these ten tracks. Twelve string acoustics give Outer Worlds a delicate charm, while bass and assorted percussion carry on a whole other conversation beneath. The juxtaposition is mesmerizing. Double electric guitar leads float above the breeziness of Beautiful Soul, reminiscent of the smooth-as-silk SoCal sound popularized by bands such as Firefall and Orleans.
It’s not all hot and hazy nights, though, as Mind Reader relies upon layers of guitars in a sweet, descending chord pattern bumping up against a solid bass line and drum figure which eventually explode beneath the lead guitar. Perdomo’s clean, crisp production allows every woosh, thump and crunch to be clearly heard. Nova sounds like a lost Grateful Dead track, with its delightfully twisted melody showcasing a variety of guitar tones and styles. Early Santana seems to be the touchstone for Transcendental Medication, with its driving bass and insistent drums. However, it’s the guitar that brings the Latin flavour more than anything else. What I really appreciate about Perdomo’s talent is that while he acknowledges his influences, he is not swallowed by them. Funk and groove are a couple hallmarks of Puzzle Peace. As usual, there are several layers of guitar, the slide part being one of the tastiest. Little changes from one verse to the next make for a rewarding listen.
Endless Coast is like the soundtrack for a sun drenched drive down the Pacific Coast Highway. The slowed-down pace midway through serves to highlight the song’s strong melodicism. The first of two guitar-only instrumentals is My Favorite Feeling, soft and wistful but never lightweight. Melody, not guitar wankery, is at the core of this (and every other) song, shining a bright light on Perdomo’s talents as a composer, arranger and instrumentalist. The album closes with the second guitar-only composition, Waves At Nightfall. Evocative of a warm, sultry night on the beach, the tune is endearingly romantic, with each layer of guitar proudly revealing its own identity.
Even though it is early in the year, Waves feels like one of those records with staying power. Without trying to be everything to everyone or pointing a proud finger at itself, Waves manages to be seductive and enticing. This is music that emanates from the heart as much as the mind. Well done, Mr. Perdomo! Looking forward to what lies ahead.
TRACK LISTING
01. In The Beginning (First Wave) (3:39)
02. Mind Reader 04:23)
03. Puzzle Peace (3:56)
04. Outer Worlds (4:00)
05. The Endless Coast (4:32)
06. Nova (4:47)
07. Beautiful Soul (4:22)
08. My Favorite Feeling (4:01)
09. Transcendental Medication (4:443)
10. Waves At Nightfall (4:01)
Total Time – 42:11
MUSICIANS
Fernando Perdomo – All Instruments
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Independent
Country of Origin: USA
Date of Release: 1st January 2025
LINKS
Band Name – Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube | X | Instagram
