Had this album come out in the late 1970s or even mid ‘80s, it might have been lauded as Euro-prog instrumental in nature but here it is in late 2025 and Modern Silent Cinema have issued Guitarworks: First Folio. The 11-track album was released summer 2025 on Bad Channels Records. One look at the Guitarworks website proves they have a multitude of album titles. Sparse but to the point, the CD packaging is enigmatic.

Featuring the music of guitarist and synth keyboard maestro Cullen Gallagher, the all instrumental album takes the listener into some deep dark waters where classical guitar meets electronic synth keys is a bold move. I can remember French prog-rock instrumentalists Coincidence being this daring, mixing acoustic 12-string and heavy synths, in the late 1970s.

For the most part, Cullen keeps the backing sparse and clean sounding. Somewhere between New Age and low-key synth instrumental, Modern Silent Cinema will appeal to progressive music mavens as well as fans of New Age and all persuasions of acoustic guitar music including folk and classical.