Reviews for EFFECTS
“Everytime Geoff Hall touches a guitar something magnficent is bound to happen. Geoff has the chops to compete at the highest level as a player in the ambient, prog-rock, and fingerstyle genres and is my go-to for artists needing guitar in their songs. Geoff is a fun, talented, easy-going collaborator with world-class skills who has never let a client down, regardless of what genre they work in.” - Chris Long, Owner of Chris Long Management
"Steady On" delivers a deeply immersive experience, crafted with a keen understanding of instrumental rock’s emotive and structural potential. From the very beginning, the track establishes an expansive sonic space—its atmospheric textures provide a strong sense of direction and mood, aligning perfectly with the stylistic expectations of post-rock and progressive instrumental genres. The syncopated delay on the main guitar line is particularly effective, creating a hypnotic, pulsing groove that gently guides the listener forward. Technically, the performance is both confident and nuanced. The guitar work carries the piece with clarity and purpose—never overly ornamental, but expressive and intentional. There's a lyrical quality to the soloing that feels almost vocal in its phrasing, adding emotional depth to the more driven, heavier choruses. These dynamic contrasts—between the airy ambient passages and the soaring, riff-heavy moments—reflect a mature compositional voice that knows when to hold back and when to let go. The evolution of the song is one of its strongest aspects; there’s a natural sense of movement that mirrors its thematic focus on perseverance and forward motion. "Steady On" is an evocative and skillfully executed track that speaks directly to fans of cinematic and guitar-driven music. - Prog Rock Scenes
The rock track is characterized by virtuoso playing, dynamic tempo changes and a smooth fusion of intensity with rock melody. The performance is goosebump-inducing with its masterful mastery of speed and quality of phrases and scales, picked among riffs that give me a big dose of adrenaline. This is a well thought out and beautifully executed piece of work. - Chillout Vibe Music
"Steady On" is a masterful instrumental piece that pays tribute to the versatility of the guitar and everything a guitarist can accomplish with it. From ethereal echoes to beautiful distortion, the track flows seamlessly between sophisticated riffs and intensely beautiful solos. It defies the obvious, presenting the guitar as both a prominent layer and a subtle texture, constantly evolving throughout the composition. The piece showcases the guitar’s full spectrum of sound, from delicate, ambient moments to bold, driving passages, creating a hypnotizing and immersive experience. Every note and tone serves the song’s overarching narrative, allowing the guitar to take on a near-mythical presence—omnipresent, captivating, and emotionally resonant. "Steady On" is a sonic journey that demonstrates the true power of the guitar as both an instrument and a storyteller on its own. - PROGland
USA's Geoff Hall releases his new album EFFECTS in August. This is 'The Promise,' a guitar driven piece of instrumental rock with the easiness and melodic richness of AOR, a touch of prog complexity, layers of instruments adding subtle tones of atmosphere and a little bit of soaring guitar work! - Loud Enough Magazine
American instrumentalist Geoff Hall has sculpted and released another phenomenal guitar journey in the latest single, “The Promise.” Off of his upcoming album, EFFECTS, Geoff uses the guitar as the main focal point on this journey of cinematic quality. A smooth as silk, melodic effort, this is a patient, well written soundscape, rather than just an instrumental song. Combining notes from Rock, Metal and other genres of music, to create such a unique sound. Combining the heavy riffs with the melodic progressions, this to me is a perfect soundtrack to those moments in life when peace, joy, or relaxation is key. - Metal Institute of Thrashology
"Opposing Forces" is an intense song, full of soul, with a melody that speaks directly to you and provides a unique musical experience. Throughout its nearly four minutes, I let myself be carried away to different places and emotions while listening to this track. If your goal was to make your music truly connect with the listener—going beyond just earning praise for the execution of the instruments—congratulations, you succeeded, because this song spoke to me. The production is excellent, and the guitar sounds absolutely stunning. The solos sing subtle, wandering melodies, and the keyboard sound enriches this immersive experience even further. I listened to this song with headphones, and the experience was incredible. Congratulations, and thank you for providing me with this journey. - Rock Na Mesa
“Opposing Forces” is a bold and cinematic instrumental that showcases Geoff Hall’s distinct guitar voice — one that seamlessly blends atmospheric tones, gritty distortion, and raw power. The track opens with heavy, assertive riffs, reinforced by massive synth layers that add weight and tension. Hall’s technical prowess shines throughout, especially in intricate guitar lines that remain emotionally grounded. As the piece unfolds, it transitions into a soaring melodic progression in the second half, offering a sense of resolution that feels earned. There’s a careful balance between chaos and control, aggression and beauty. “Opposing Forces” feels like a storm with moments of calm at its center — intense, textured, and undeniably compelling. - PROGland
Instrumental guitar lovers, post-rock explorers, and prog aficionados listen up: Geoff Hall has just released ‘Steady On’, the first taste of his upcoming album ‘EFFECTS’, and it’s an absolute ride. ‘Steady On’ is a dynamic instrumental that blends syncopated, rhythmic delay guitar lines with powerful choruses. It’s a track that moves, in both structure and spirit. Think post-rock ambience meets prog-rock precision, with textures that call to mind the cinematic breadth of Hammock and the emotive leads of players like Eric Johnson and Alex Lifeson. The main riff pulses, while open, airy chords fill the space with a near-orchestral feel. Then the chorus hits- full of grit and uplift- and suddenly the track feels like a late-night drive through a thunderstorm, all tension and release. The melodic guitar solo that follows is expressive and unhurried, adding further dimension before the final build brings things to a triumphant close. ‘Steady On’ sets the tone for ‘EFFECTS’, which promises a high-energy blend of ambient soundscapes, melodic shred, and rock-driven drama. With a background that spans fingerstyle, orchestral film scoring, and electric guitar, Hall brings a rare combination of feel, technique, and cinematic vision. Geoff Hall’s ‘Steady On’ is a compelling entry point to an artist who’s clearly playing the long game. Four singles are set to lead into the release of ‘EFFECTS’. If this first track is any indication, it’s going to be a record worth watching closely. - No Transmission
“Geoff Hall's music has a strong melodic flow and is a great background for everyday life. The steel string guitar sound and technique remind me of the best Windham Hill atmospheres. ” - Franco Morone
“I really like Geoff's album because of it's diversity...Each track is different and gives me a variety of music from which to choose. The fact that the music is fantastic just adds to the pleasure of sharing. I'm not sure if he knows just how good he really is!” - Michael "Wings" - WFCF
“...This is great music for relaxation, driving, quiet activities, and just generally getting lost in. ” - Kathy Parsons
“...Well, it certainly looks like all that practicing has paid off for Geoff. While It Lasts is his second solo venture. It is a beautiful album that embodies his choice of instrument and style of playing. I think Will Ackerman would be pleased. It did not take long for me to realize that this is a significant release. I am sure that the new age community will embrace this artist and his music. And by that, I mean listeners and peers alike. If you have an affinity for moving music that relaxes or a few tracks in between that offer that exhilarating climb and crescendo, you find it all here on this recording. Go ahead, give yourself a nice relaxing cup of gorgeous sounds and positive vibrations and enjoy it all While It Lasts, then repeat the same exercise. You will be glad you took my advice; I promise.” - Keith Hannaleck, New Age Guitar Review
“Understanding the Signs from Geoff Hall is a pretty impressive album for a debut artist, he has really placed his heart on his musical sleeve and gone for it and I am both proud and glad to say that he has been extremely successful in doing so, I can see the electronic and new age music fans are going to fall in love with this album very quickly indeed and as such I have no problem at all recommending it to you.” - Steve Sheppard, One World Music Radio, June 2016 (UK)
“Simply gorgeous music... Well worth checking out” - Buzz Music, June 2016
“Geoff Hall – UNDERSTANDING THE SIGNS: Though billed in the promo as “new age, orchestral-ambient”, Geoff’s wonderful debut release tends most strongly to the orchestral side of things, with some totally moving percussion woven in, around and through it! I fell in love with it on the first tune, the 4:33 “The Run“, i think because of the percussion weave he is so excellent at… tasty orchestral patches on this one, to be sure. His works have far more energy than the average “new age” recording, and tunes like the striding string title cut, “Understanding The Signs” will make you realize his total talent at composition right away… it could have gone on for an hour, though, rather than the 2:19 it clocks in with. The 4:08 “Knowing” is simple, yet full of the power of spirit; I loved this one, too. Of the eight enchantments, it was (again) the longest song on the album that caught my ear most strongly and made it my absolute favorite… “Gone But Not Forgotten” will take you back to memories you’d thought long lost, no matter what they may be, and overwhelm you with them. I give Geoff a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of a (perfect) 5.00; meaning it also gets the “PICK” of this issue for “best orchestral composition”! Get more information and listen to samples at Geoff’s page for this stellar release.” - Rotcod Zzaj
— Improvijazzation Nation
“Boy, is this guy a step ahead. Inspired by the modern soundtrack masters, Hall intuitively knows that if you can break into the studio system at all, they are going to make you make your bones in the underfunded Indie division where the music has to be part of the story. Hall has crafted a perfect, narrative soundtrack in search of a characterdriven story. Having it all hang together as a statement on it's own like he was a student of Mancini, Hall knows who he is and with stuff like this as his debut, we're looking forward to seeing his name in credit crawls soon. Check it out. ”
— Midwest Record: Entertainment Reviews, News and Views