Colorado-based guitar conceptualist Charles Brown is back in action in 2023 with his latest epic called A New Awakening. The title track is a veritable progressive instrumental masterpiece that also borrows from blues-rock and heavy metal. A guitarist’s guitarist, Charles Brown has released nine solo albums of pure instrumental rock to date, and now his tenth solo CD, A New Awakening is sure to spark interest among his many followers.

This time around Charles is a one man band, playing all the guitars, bass, synths and drums. A musical mastermind, Charles was greatly influenced by Pete Townshend and one could also hear the Who guitar dynamic in play on A New Awakening. In the spirit of Townshend, Charles fashions his impressive sonic vision by mixing electric guitars with acoustic guitars to great effect. On A New Awakening, Charles also follows in the footsteps of his guitar heroes Billy F. Gibbons, Robin Trower, Kim Simmonds and Richie Blackmore.

Every track here has something to offer. The  title cut “A New Awakening” is one of his best and “Rock Solid” finally finds a place on a Charles Brown album, as it first appeared on the “Emidio’s Den 2” compilation album on Bongo Boy Records back in 2020. “Edge Of Time” goes through several different changes and has a jazzy, prog-light guitar sound that is quite tasteful. “Walking The Edge” is very Who-inspired with its mix of acoustic and electric guitars while the classical guitar flavored CD closer, “Touch The Sunrise” displays the artists fretboard versatility. A New Awakening is clearly an album that reveals new layers of sound with each spin.