ALEX ANTHONY FAIDE – The Prog Guitar Maestro!
4 min read
1. Please introduce yourself to our readers.
Hello, my name is Alex Anthony Faide and I am a guitar player originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I have been playing guitar for about 35 years. I am currently based in Seattle, WA – USA.
2. Which was your influence for your solo record “Particles of the Infinite”?
Particles of the Infinite stands undeniably as a tribute to my guitar instructor, life mentor, and friend, Robert Fripp. My long-time collaborator and life brother Steve Ball (League of Crafty Guitarists, Electric Gauchos, Prometheus) challenged me to come up with my own version of King Crimson’s “Fracture” and “Lark’s Tongues in Aspic.” Mr. Fripp’s writing and guitar work in these monumental pieces strike me as expertly unique blends of influences in contemporary electric guitar repertoire, which inspired me to dive deeply into my own voice and personal practice to accept the challenge issued. I love the fierce, heavy rock attitude and sound in those works, executed with pristine precision in a contemporary classical music tradition on an electrified instrument. I am mesmerized by the section of “Fracture” known as “Perpetuum Mobile” and with the guitarist’s capacity to execute intricate parts in an effortless fashion with a triangular plectrum. The challenge to evoke such intricacy seems to me both impossibly fragile and risky, so I wanted to push myself to see what I could do.
3. When and how did you record the album “Particles of the Infinite”?
I recorded the guitar and bass parts between 2017-2019, and then sent various Particles to different drummers in different places of the world to record their parts. Matt Chamberlain in California (USA), Pat Mastelotto in Texas (USA), and Alessandro Inolti in Italy.
4. Why did you decide to divide the “Particles of the Infinite” album into 9 parts?
The 9 frameworks that make up Particles of the Infinite are presented in triptych (Pt. I-III / Pt. IV-VI / Pt. VII – IX) each containing particular techniques (alternate and cross-picking, stamina, release and flow for the left hand, exploration of diminished /symmetric scale relationships, rhythmic displacement & vector harmonization) – and interpretations of various themes, motifs and passages. You could think of them as episodes or chapters in a book that develop an overarching storyline.
5. How did you decide to collaborate with Trey Gunn (King Crimson)?
I really like the diversity, experimentation, and high caliber musicianship represented on Trey Gunn’s label 7d Media. It felt like the right home for this work. My wife, Crystal Beth, has released records on the 7d label since 2019 and spoke highly of the artist friendly ethics and support. We released a duo record on the label (called Episodic Memory) at the end of 2021 so it felt really great to expand the catalog with my own solo release. Trey Gunn is a deep thinker and composer and it is an honor to have my music represented by 7d.
6. What do you remember from the 2017-19 touring, songwriting, and arranging, with the Mexican band Molotov?
My time with Molotov was spent working on their MTV Unplugged tour of “El Desconecte” which was filled with great audiences, great venues, and an absolutely amazing crew. Also undeniably, working with Sylvia Massy, producer, and the legendary Beastie Boys keyboardist Money Mark were career highlights. Both Massy and Mark bring forward so much epic experimentation and history in sound, I learned a lot working with both. And the guys from Molotov are without a doubt one of the most legendary rock bands in Latin America. Those guys are a loud bunch! So fun!
7. Robert Fripp (King Crimson) has been your guitar instructor, what were the innovative elements that influenced you on your guitar playing?
Robert redefined how I held a pick, and an entire universe opened as a result. In all the guitar instruction I received before studying with Robert, no one really mentioned the right hand operation in detail. Robert has developed such an understanding of the physics and “effortless effort” approach to picking which makes magical things possible. Even the “impossible” is possible. Another huge contribution in my experience with Robert was the way that rhythm is introduced to the students, oftentimes creating a group machinery where power chords and coordinated odd meters emerge as a result of group effort.
8. Which is your opinion about the modern progressive rock scene?
9. Is progressive rock really “progressive” today?
I don’t really think about music in terms of genre so I can’t speak to the “progressive” scene or if rock is really “progressive” today. I love good music, and when music offers itself to you I think it’s important to listen and do everything you can to bring it into the world. That’s all I know.
10. Do you have any touring plans for your new album?
Due to the two years of the pandemic, all touring plans have been put on hold. It has taken a heroic effort to even release the record throughout all that has happened in the last couple of years. But I do have some ideas up my sleeve that would be incredible to realize in live performances.
Information: Alex Anthony Faide (bandcamp.com)
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