Martin Lloyd Howard’s ‘Surrey Bells’ Turns Memories Into Music

Martin Lloyd Howard is a guitarist and composer from Reigate, England. Martin discovered his style by fusing electric guitar and acoustic sounds, drawing inspiration from musicians like John Dowland, Davey Graham, Jimmy Page and Ritchie Blackmore. His music bridges the gap between classical tradition and contemporary sounds. From ‘The Night Train’ to ‘Surrey Bells’, in his latest release, Martin has brought to life a feeling that is hard to translate into words. That is exactly where his instruments come into use. His discography is rooted in nostalgia and emotions tied to places that are etched into your soul.

“A beautiful instrumental that lets the guitar tell a story words simply can’t.”

Oftentimes, music listeners tend to place emphasis on lyrics as the backbone of a song or an album. They also tend to turn a blind eye to the instruments, composition, and backing tracks that shape a song into what it is. Martin Howard is changing exactly that with his discography. ‘Surrey Bells’ is a track that gives life to a memory that only a few can relate to; skilfully personifying the sound of a familiar atmosphere that is frequently forgotten through the strings of a guitar. The sound of church bells ringing in rural England served as the inspiration for ‘Surrey Bells’. It was composed entirely in DADGAD tuning and recorded on a Tanglewood steel-string guitar. If you’re someone who knows there are worlds and stories etched into instrumentals, then ‘Surrey Bells’ by Martin Howard is worth a listen.

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