Jim Davies, one of the U.Ks most revered and respected guitarists, is set to launch his debut instrumental guitar album. Released April 20th 2009 on Mascot Records, ‘Electronic Guitar’ is a pulsating monster of a record, showcasing Davies’ ingenious guitar techniques that blur the line between synths and six-strings.
As far as bona fide guitar heroes go, Jim Davies was a late starter. The veteran of the UK electronic-rock crossover scene began playing at 16. However, his delayed introduction to the instrument was no handicap: three years after his first powerchord, he was a finalist in Guitarist magazine’s Guitarist of The Year competition. Jim earned his place in the final with an instrumental that demonstrated his unique sound, developed while still in his teens.
“The dance scene became a massive source of inspiration for me at a time when I felt I’d taken my rock style playing as far as it could go,” says Jim, “I’d loved all the squelchy filter sounds and layers of synth lines, so I started using more guitar effects to try and emulate those sounds.”
In 1995, a chance meeting with Prodigy main man Liam Howlett gave Jim the opportunity to take his innovative playing to a wider audience. Seizing the moment, Davies handed Howlett a demo tape. Liam was so impressed by what he heard, he asked Jim to join him as Prodigy’s touring guitarist. The subsequent tour took in The Prodigy’s famous Glastonbury appearance of 1995 and headline slots at festivals across the globe.
Jim left enough of an impression on his new band to be asked into the studio to take part in the sessions for what would become The Prodigy’s breakthrough album, ‘Fat Of The Land’. Davies’ guitar work became an integral part of The Prodigy’s new sound, injecting a raw, ballsy aspect to the hits ‘Firestarter’ and ‘Breathe’.
Not content to rest on his laurels, in 1998 Jim joined cult industrial punk band Pitchshifter. Davies’ involvement in the recording sessions for the album www.pitchshifter.com meant the band’s critically acclaimed masterpiece was awash with his distinctive guitar sounds. The group went on to tour relentlessly, supporting Korn, Limp Bizkit, Deftones and Pantera, and opening the main stage at the UK’s Reading Festival in front of 60,000 people.
On Pitchshifter’s following album, ‘Deviant’, Davies was able to show off his full gamut of guitar sounds as well as his songwriting skills. The record was produced by Dave Jerden (Alice In Chains, Offspring, Jane’s Addiction) and released in 2000, hitting the top 30 in the UK. At this stage Jim became a feature of the British guitar magazines, with Total Guitar asking, “Is this the UK’s most exciting player?”
In 2002 Davies rejoined The Prodigy and played on the album ‘Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned’. The group toured again, headlining the Reading Festival and Big Day Out tour of Australia.
During a period of down time from The Prodigy, Jim recorded an album with the band’s Keith Flint. Cult producer (and ex-Killing Joke bassist) Youth was behind the mixing desk and the sessions got off to a promising start. However, due to label issues, the record was never released.
As ever, Davies kept busy and around the same time, he recorded his last album with Pitchshifter, ‘P.S.I.’, on Sanctuary Records. Jim left the band after their legendary London Astoria gig, immortalised on the live album ‘Bootlegged and Distorted, Remixed and Uploaded’.
In 2007, the prolific axeman recorded and released ‘Victory Pill’ – Jim’s first self-directed project. Much of the album was written and recorded at the pre-production stage by Jim, so this time the acclaim was all his. Metal Hammer said, “[‘Victory Pill’] doesn’t fall short on catchy hooks or memorable tunes, nor does it compromise on energy or aggression.” Total Guitar was also impressed: “A victorious debut… reminds us what a unique talent Jim Davies is!”
Now in 2009, the scene is set for ‘Electronic Guitar’, Jim Davies’ debut album as an instrumental artist. It’s a powerful statement of intent from the revered pioneer that should appeal to guitarists and non-guitarists alike…