Ben Granfelt - It's Personal (2025) [Hi-Res]

Ben Granfelt's 21st solo album, "It's Personal", is a special release-especially in a time when not many artists still put out their albums on CD and vinyl, let alone as a double CD/double LP combining a studio and a live album."I've been so inspired to play lately, and people have been asking for instrumental tracks for a long time… so here you go, a pure instrumental album." And "It's Personal" is exactly that. Ben plays the guitar purely for his own enjoyment, with no rules or restrictions-just a beautiful collection of musical statements. These are songs with melodies, riffs, and different sonic textures. And yes, of course, there are solos, but they remain part of the songs rather than an excuse for endless noodling. "We recorded the basic tracks live in a big room together with Masa Maijanen (bass) and Jari Salminen (drums). Then I locked myself in my small studio and had the most wonderful time recording guitar tracks and creating sounds. I truly believe I have made something very special and personal, and I'm really proud of the result." The live CD/LP, on the other hand, proves that Ben is also an outstanding singer and serves as further evidence of a band having the time of their lives. Recorded during the 2024 tour for the anniversary album "Gratitude"-Ben's tribute to Jeff Beck, Robin Trower, and Gary Moore-it highlights the fact that no Ben Granfelt concert is ever the same. There's plenty of jamming, and the songs often differ significantly from their studio versions.