Middle Of The Road

**Eric Gales** just may be the ultimate under-the-radar superstar in Rock history. Throughout his 25 years as a professional musician, he's been termed a child prodigy, "the most underrated guitarist in history," and even the successor to *Jimi Hendrix*. "I'm humbly proud for the notoriety," Gales says of his contrasting high critical acclaim and relatively low-key public image. Indeed, this year may just be the time for it to happen: Gales is ready to unleash his talent to an even wider audience with the release of his latest solo set, which can considered a rebirth. His fourth album on *Provogue* sees him at his most expressive yet; it is a deeply personal and reflective record that echoes where he is in his life right now and he opens himself up and allows himself the chance to really flourish. It's a dazzling showcase of both his songwriting and playing acumen featuring guest appearances from his friends, including A-list admirers **Raphael Saadiq**,**Gary Clark Jr** and a co-write with **Lauryn Hill**.