Review ©2002 Wretched Productions/Quintessence Metal Webzine - Stereo Gentleman (Russia)- "Rolling Head" (2001 self)



A guitarist/composer from Russia? Yeah, it's the first for me and a treat too. Peter Petchalov is the idealist behind the name and has a vast array of stuff for you to hear. Let's see, atmospheric keyboards, some techno, some Metal and alas, superb soloing that ranges from "Satch" to Sykes, Blackmore, Beck, Malmsteen, Vai, SRV, MacAlpine and Van Halen. Sound impressive? Indeed it is and Peter calls this a "heavier style of dance music" but funny enough, I listen to Yanni and some of Stereo Gentleman is reminiscent of that with the orchestral stuff. Just imagine Techno meets Trance and Yanni with complex to ballsy compositions and soloing. Unorthodox? You bet! This is what makes it original and the only other guitarists I have listened to (I'm sure there's others) that have made a name for themselves that do a bit of this are Martone and Joboj. Definitely something diverse to freshen up your pallet for fusion/instrumental guitar.



Guitar 9

http://www.guitar9.com/rollinghead.html



You wouldn't find a shelf on a record store shelf for the music of Russian-born, England-based Peter Petchalov (A.K.A. Stereo Gentleman) - his fusion of heavy guitar and dance grooves with real guitar solos on Rolling Head is only one of a few CDs of its kind available today. His strength is his melodicism combined with his own way of incorporating rock guitar with dance grooves. Change of pace tunes such as "Another Planet's Sky" and "Lonely Cloud", which vary from the dance feel, are burners as well, giving Petchalov even more room to stretch his

improvisations. Rolling Head, inspired by classic rock bands such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Uriah Heep, Pink Floyd and Nazareth, and written with the desire to take heavy guitar in a new direction, will thrill fans seeking a departure from the usual contexts assumed by traditional instrumental guitar rock.