Fidelity is the debut album from High Llamas guitarist Pete Aves. Recorded in six weeks in the summer of 2001 it is a collection of fourteen short songs written, performed and produced by the guitarist. On his decision not to use other musicians Aves comments, "I decided against it because I think you can get more interesting and intuitive sounds from an instrument if you don't play it very well. That's why a lot of the drum patterns are unusual, because I can't do the conventional things properly- I just played what I heard in my head."
The songs themselves are clearly modelled on the old fashioned virtues of memorable melodies and chord sequences, but steer clear of conventional structures and arrangements. Harmoniums rub shoulders with mandolins in songs without choruses, and witty, observant lyrics are delivered without affectation. The album has a very organic sound, due no doubt to the fact that it was made in Aves' home studio using a minimum of technology. He notes "that all the songs were already written, so my job was just to put flesh on the bones. I did this quickly and without too much deliberation because I wanted it to sound spontaneous rather than like some bloke agonising over the Hammond fill in the second verse."
Available at
www.peteaves.co.uk and in shops.
