Fernando Perdomo: "Waves 4" (2025) CD Review

Fernando Perdomo's impressive year-long project continues with Waves 4, which was released at the beginning of April. For those who don't yet know, Fernando Perdomo is releasing an album of new material at the beginning of each month this year. He not only composed all the tracks on Waves 4 (and each of the other volumes in the series), but plays all the instruments, and produced the album. One thing he did not do is take the album cover photo. Each volume has featured a different shoreline photo by Joe Galdo, and Waves 4 has my favorite of the photos thus far. I love that dramatic sky and those incredible blues. The tracks on this album are instrumentals, the music itself sometimes featuring dramatic colors and moments, other times having a soothing effect, and always engaging.

The album opens with "Pulled In," which immediately catches us in its grip, the sound rolling over us, a series of sharp waves seeming to slice the air above us. After a minute or so, the track takes a sudden and surprising turn, sounding like it is being shut down, like someone pulled the plug on it. Then another surprise comes right on top of that one, the track kicking in with a great and positive force. And soon we are treated to some bright guitar work. There is a weight to this song, which is part of its power. Halfway through, it begins to build, and we realize we are still under its force. That slicing sound recurs, but with a different feel this time, like moments shifting backward past us, things we can't hold onto. And now we've entered some sort of other realm, a place of beauty, of magnificent sea creatures. This is such an intriguing track to kick things off. Fernando Perdomo switches directions then with "The Tunnel," which has an unusual meditative vibe at the start. This one also takes us into another place. We feel focused on our immediate surroundings, but sense other action all around us, just beyond our grasp, just beyond our line of vision. The guitar acts as our guide, showing us wonders of this space, and even singing to us in its own particular language, a language capable of spinning magic.

"The Thunder, The Rain, The Clouds" opens dramatically, like a streak of lightning. There is a sense of danger in those first few seconds, and then the guitar work has more of a calming effect, like a pleasant rain, as if the violence of a storm quickly gave way to a more soothing shower. Yet there still are hints of darkness. Interestingly, on the streaming site, the song has a slightly different title, "The Thunder, The Rain, The Mist." There is some excellent guitar work on this track. The storm has not left us, but it need not frighten us or keep us immobile. "Soaked" has a dramatic sense about it too. It feels like a storm as well, though one that is more consistent. The light that reaches us through this storm is artificial, pointed, like sharp streaks in this city landscape.

"Brighton" eases in, like steps in the darkness, like we deliberately want to slow things down, to get a better look at them, to get a better grasp on the evening, on the experience. Perhaps it's all in the past already, and we are looking back, or even stepping back. These memories have a power and a life of their own, even if there is a haze cast over them. We walk into a dream, into a memory, and it seems we could remain there if we wish. Then "The Most Beautiful Giant (TallGirlKatie)" kicks in with a glorious force, and soon takes on a somewhat more laid-back attitude, becoming a tune to sway to, before it then builds again, taking on more power. There are other interesting turns, like that pause nearly halfway through, with an interesting call-and-response that reminds me of Close Encounters Of The Third Kind. That moment quickly passes, and things begin to build again. This track takes us on quite a ride. It is followed by "Beauty," a nice contemplative guitar piece that opens into a special place that feels both like dawn and dusk, where there are possibilities and promises and, yes, beauty.

The guitar work on "Find Me" is touching, moving, feeling like it desires to physically enter into memory and hold someone, or to bring someone out of memory into an embrace. This is one of my personal favorites. The guitar work is so expressive and beautiful. There is sadness, and also hope. There are a couple of moments that remind me a bit of "In My Life," just for a second or two. That's followed by "The Most Mysterious Man," which has an odd beginning. What sort of realm are we being ushered into here? But then it soon becomes rather gorgeous, though with a haunting sort of element, like from dreamlike carnival. This is another of my favorites. Apparently, this one is also called "The Most Mysterious Man In Tarzana," a more humorous title. To write ten new songs each month is impressive enough, but when they are as good and interesting as this track, that is something else again. The album concludes with "The West Bay," which is dedicated to the memory of David Westbay. It is thoughtful and pretty, and becomes more beautiful and engaging as it progresses.

CD Track List

1. Pulled In
2. The Tunnel
3. The Thunder, The Rain, The Clouds
4. Soaked
5. Brighton
6. The Most Beautiful Giant (TallGirlKatie)
7. Beauty
8. Find Me
9. The Most Mysterious Man
10. The West Bay

Waves 4 was released on April 1, 2025.