Graeme Ginsberg’s second full‑length release under his If Not If banner arrived in late June, the follow up to 2023’s Structure. Across ten tracks, including the three‑part centrepiece Performance, Electricity confirms Graeme as a multi‑instrumentalist whose influences run deep into the more esoteric corners of progressive music. He incorporates elements of Crimson, Zappa, Jazz rock and more, yet there’s always a huge difference between ‘influenced by’ and ‘sounding like’, a skill that Graeme possesses, meaning that Electricity sounds nothing like anything other than an If Not If album.
For my reviewing purposes I have been listening to this in its entirety through my headphones, and as a listener I can highly recomend doing this, as this is an album to be explored, enjoyed as a complete work. This ensures you are focusing on the music and are not distracted, and by doing so you can pick up on all the little nuances and sounds that this album is built around.
The first track Tales of Power features some really interesting percussion/drum patterns and a gorgeously warm guitar sound. Graeme isn’t holding back here as the bass, guitar and drums build and grow into a funky smooth groove, with some superb playing, opening the album in fine style.
Then the double header of Eyes Windows Soul Part 1: Surfaces and Part 2: The Emotions That Remain. The opening riff and sounds build into an atmospheric, almost Radiophonic theatre-esque exploration of sound, as the incredibly complex drum loops that hang underneath pull it all together, before his exquisite guitar builds into a superb funky break that nicely segues into Part 2. Here we’re treated to some sublime guitar work, where the theme of less is more, and the minimal percussive pattern allows the guitar to flow and build until the synths are reintroduced.
The beauty of Graeme’s compositional skills is that he has the talent to allow songs to build, grow and develop, letting the ideas breathe, without ever overstaying their welcome. Hence, the superb guitar work that both dominates this album, and demonstrates his skills as he moves from jazz rock, to funk to the blues and beyond across these ten tracks with deftness and a lightness of touch.
Not just that though, as the album ebbs and flows through tracks like Once Upon a Time, with its superb interplay between guitar & keyboards, this is where Graeme’s skills as a multi-instrumentalist and composer shine. The performance here as the keys and guitar trade riffs and build organically together remind me in no small part of the Division Bell sound of Gilmour & Wright. In fact, if I hadn’t known this was the work of one talented musician, I’d have thought this had been built organically from a band jamming.
The emotion for this track as described by Graeme Ginsberg is of a life, haunted by regret and finally allowed to let go, and I absolutely get that.
Like I said, no piece outstays it’s welcome, so whilst tracks like Stepping Out, with its superb bass work and interesting counter melodies and sounds are only 2:51, it and one of the more electronically textured tracks on here, with some fantastic almost dub sounds with that unmistakable trademark guitar sound pulling it back into the album.
The final three-parter of performance, is wonderfully constructed and concise mini epic, with the centre Part 2: The Wisdom Of The Fool, described by Graeme as ‘unusual, enigmatic & infective’. With his guitar/slap bass interplay and then some really funky sax, this is a melting pot of funk, jazz and prog and, don’t ask me how, but it just works.
Whilst the final part has some much more muscular riffing, and the entire sequence encapsulates the heart of If Not If, if a stranger asked me what If Not If sounded like, I would play Performance Parts 1-3.
Finally, we come to the wonderful Memories of Home, which closes the album in style. Stunning blues riffs that just build and grow are an absolute joy to listen to, and completes the fifty one minutes of some of the best instrumental music I’ve heard in a very long time indeed.
Whilst this album displays some dexterous compositional skills, a finely honed deftness of touch, genre bending, and some amazing musical performances throughout, one thing that Graeme Ginsberg understands all too well throughout the process, is that all the best music is made to feel, make you connect deeply with the music on a spiritual and emotional level, and on all bases, Electricity succeeds without a doubt.
I doubt I will hear another album like this, this year, a superb record.
TRACK LISTING
01. Tales Of Power (6:47)
02. Eyes Window Soul – Part 1: Surfaces (8:01)
03. Eyes Window Soul – Part 2: The Emotions That Remain (7:18)
04. Once Upon A Time (Closure) (5:13)
05. Stepping Out (2:51)
06. So Much Joy (4:42)
07. Performance – Part 1: Nostalgia (2:53)
08. Performance – Part 2: The Wisdom Of The Fool (5:02)
09. Performance – Part 3: Storm (2:46)
10. Memories Of Home (6:04)
Total Time – 51:42
MUSICIANS
Graeme Ginsberg – Guitars, Bass (1,2,4 & 9), Synths
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Independent
Country of Origin: UK
Date of Release: 26th June 2026
