On 30th May 2025, Liverpool guitarist and composer Neil Campbell unveiled his latest instrumental opus, The Turnaround, a dazzling sequel to his critically acclaimed 2021 release The Great Escape. Known for his fusion of classical guitar mastery, progressive rock, cinematic ambience, and jazz-inflected soundscapes, Campbell once again delivers an album of depth, colour, and emotional resonance.
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From the moment the opening track “The Wild Frontier” begins, listeners are invited into a sonic journey that conjures sweeping vistas of the American West. A grand, cinematic build-up evokes the golden age of Western film scores, complete with layered instrumentals that would feel at home in a Sergio Leone epic. But this is no mere nostalgia act—Campbell reinvents the genre through his unique progressive lens, offering fresh energy and artistic ambition.
The momentum continues as the album seamlessly transitions into “On The Other Hand”, a dynamic and expressive track bursting with intricate guitar riffs and radiant melodic lines. Here, Campbell’s signature progressive style is fully realised—technical but never mechanical, emotional yet never overwrought.
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The title track, “The Turnaround”, brings a dreamy, jazz-inflected atmosphere, rich in texture and tonal nuance. It’s a moment of introspection and delicacy, showcasing Campbell’s gift for compositional layering. Lush harmonies and gentle rhythmic shifts lull the listener into a contemplative state, reinforcing the album’s broader travelogue narrative.
Track four, “Tarantella”, takes an evocative detour into Wild West/Mexican territory, invoking flamenco-esque rhythms and galloping guitar lines that could easily score a high-stakes desert chase. This globe-trotting energy continues throughout the album, painting vivid mental pictures with every note.
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Each track on The Turnaround feels like a postcard from a different place, time, or dream. The breezy “Beach Scene” stands out with its exotic 70s jazz-fusion feel—a tranquil, sun-drenched highlight that embodies escapism at its finest. Similarly, “One Evening in Palermo” could effortlessly underscore a Godfather film, with its moody, Mediterranean textures and evocative phrasing.
Campbell proves equally adept at evoking Americana with “The Beltane”, a buoyant, bluegrass-flavoured number steeped in early 20th-century charm. His versatility is further showcased on “Roger, Over & Out”, which blends funky grooves, whistling harmonics, and pristine guitar tones into an irresistible instrumental jam.
As the album winds toward its close, “No Leaves Left” introduces a reflective, melancholic pause—poignant and poetic, it sets up the final track “Second Hand”, a charming and upbeat farewell that ties the journey together with warmth and optimism.
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Produced in collaboration with Jon Lawton and Marty Snape, The Turnaround features contributions from long-time collaborators including Roger Gardiner (Overwater bass) and Martin Smith (trumpet). The 13-track collection effortlessly blends Campbell’s classical precision with cinematic storytelling, jazz sophistication, and a progressive spirit.
It’s easy to see why Campbell has earned high praise from legends such as Victor Wooten, Jon Anderson, and Tom Robinson. As Jon Neudorf of Sea of Tranquility notes, he remains “one of the best acoustic guitar players of our time.” The Turnaround is more than an album—it’s a sensorial journey through soundscapes that ignite the imagination and soothe the soul.
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In a world often dominated by digital noise, The Turnaround is a masterful reminder of the emotional and storytelling power of music. It’s a feast for the ears and a balm for the spirit—another milestone in the storied career of one of Liverpool’s finest musical minds.
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