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Norweigan guitar virtuoso Roger Pedersen's previous album 'Kernels in a Popcorn Machine' was an epic and different music experience. Very orginal shredding and almost in the jazz funk rock folder with very advanced guitar playing. It's interesting to compare this brand new album 'More is More' and see in what direction this string bender from Haugesund is pointing his guitar neck this time around. Immediately in the very first tracks, it's clear that Pedersen has one of the fastest hands I've ever heard from a guitar act. Fast is not equal to good in my ears, but it is certainly an interesting musical craftsmanship.

The songs are all instrumental except the last track on the album, where Johannes Stole is singing. Roger is playing all the instruments himself except the drumming (Todd Sorensen).

To summarize the music in a sense "advanced guitar acrobatics with melodies" a good summary. It's not any heavy improvisation jazz music, which I find very difficult to listen to. No it's nice musical harmonies and with fast proficient sliding on the guitar neck.

If you like extreme, skilful guitar playing and want it in a package with some kind of melodies, this is an album you can try to get in your collection. Personally I usually get bored by this kind of instrumental albums with too much of the goodies, but Roger Pedersen has put together a nice mix of tracks with different flavours on the disc. I really like the closing track on the album 'Say My Name'. I had appreciated more songs with vocals from the talented Johannes Stole, but maybe on the next album I get what wish for?

Anyway, an enjoyable acquaintance to me. 

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