Acoustic Alchemy expands its trademark dual-guitar sound in all directions on American/English (Higher Octave). This is a lively, stylistically diverse offering wherein guitarists Greg Carmichael and Miles Gilderdale set their instruments in all kinds of contexts. Bouncy flutes offset the guitars in “The Crossing,” while “Trinity,” a light reggae, lopes along casually. The band salutes British dance-pop star Kylie Minogue on the vocals-accented dance track “So Kylie,” while the percolating jazz-funk number “She Speaks American English” hints at a Steely Dan influence. “The Detroit Shuffle” is a good-natured, rollicking uptempo number with a lot of soul, and Carmichael and Gilderdale strip the band trappings away and let the guitar harmonies shine on the romantic “Cherry Hill.”
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