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about Slow Lightning
"Rubenis' bluesy picking ignited images of Hank Williams to bluegrass and classical guitar playing, from which, for example, John Fahey also drew his expression.
The roots-based Slow Lightning, his latest record, differs interestingly from the line of the guitarist's previous band Mona de Bo, which ranges from indiegarage to drone. The risk is worth it." (fragment, another crude slightly edited google-trrrr from Finnish)
Matti Komulainen, SOUNDI, 2022/09/30 link
Review of performance at Skaņu Mežs Festival 20th anniversary, Riga, 2022/09/24
"In “Lockup Rag”, "ABCAB Blues", "N/Ragging Rag" Edgars engages in a dialogue with the early Delta blues players - Robert Johnson, Mississippi John Hurt, Skip James, Blind Willie Johnson and Son House. He does not shy away from directly borrowing “ancient” musical motives in order to readapt them within his own conception. Yet, to say that these compositions could have been written 100 years ago on the cotton fields of Louisiana, would be untrue. This is more likely a citation from a distance. Carried out by a musician in command of the blues form with more on mind than a wish to hijack a well established musical heritage.
Things become intriguing in compositions "NR 3", "NR 7" un "NR 27" which contrast with the melodic and pulsating nature of the early blues. Here Edgars sounds like Robert Fripp caught within some peculiar state of mind, having forgotten that music is being recorded on a tape. Possibly Edgars has forgotten that as well. In these pieces he as if slows down the tempo, takes a moment for a thought, lets the mood afloat. Taking the listener calmly by the hand, he leads them to a place known only to himself. I have no clue to where and why - if that could be put in words then there would be no necessity for music. Those are then the most beautiful and enigmatic moments of the record. There it becomes clear - this clearly is not a restoration of the early blues tradition, but a step further in Edgars’ musical practice." (fragment, translated from Latvian)
Mikus Solovejs, Satori LV, 2022/06/30, link
"Rubenis atgriežas pie savām blūza saknēm, tās nekopējot, bet akustiski instrumentāli spēlējot un ierakstot lentē, kuras šņākoņa pavada kompozīcijas tā it kā pats būtu aizceļojis ar laika mašīnu simt gadu senā pagātnē. Slow Lightning ir lielisks to laiku mūzikas svinēšanas albums, līdzīgi kā mūsdienās uz melnbaltās lentes uzņemta neieskaņota filma to panāktu redzes maņu uztveres pasaulē."
***** Uldis Rudaks, Mūzikas Saule #4/2022
"In his playing style Edgars does not belong to the club of the most numbing refiners, but his music is lively and easy to follow." (crude google-trrrr from Finnish)
Pete Hoppula, (Finnish) Blues News #3/2022
"And I just can't pick a favourite."
Vital Weekly #1332
"Knowing Edgars' previous work pretty well, I have to say this was nearly the last thing I expected to come out of the speakers when I pressed play. Which makes it all the more enjoyable! Fascinating and sometimes Fahey-esque new direction! Favorite track: NR 3."
macumbista / Derek Holzer