Australian surf guitar maestro Martin Cilia returns with 12 original instrumental tracks celebrating the sound, feel and spirit of 1960s electric guitar.
Acclaimed musician and a leading exponent of surf guitar, Martin Cilia returns in 2026 with Instromania, a new collection of 12 original instrumental compositions that puts the electric guitar firmly in the spotlight.
Drawing heavily on the sounds and musical language of the 1960s, Instromania finds Cilia exploring the enduring appeal of instrumental guitar music while bringing his own distinctive playing and production approach to a new set of compositions. The album follows a long and celebrated solo career that has seen Cilia release a succession of instrumental guitar records, including Revenge of the Surf Guitar, Surfersaurus, Going to Kaleponi, Shadowman, Dawn of the Surf Guitar and 2024’s Here Comes the Sun.
At the heart of Instromania is Cilia’s love of electric guitar tone. His preferred sonic territory is the unmistakable combination of a vintage Fender Stratocaster plugged into a vintage Vox AC30, enhanced with echo and reverb to create the spacious, atmospheric character that has become synonymous with classic instrumental guitar music.
“I love the sound of the electric guitar, especially the sound of a vintage Fender Stratocaster plugged into a vintage Vox AC30 amp, with some echo and reverb added for good measure,” says Cilia.
While best known internationally for his work in surf guitar, Cilia’s musical vocabulary extends across jazz, country and rock. He is a member of legendary Australian surf instrumental group The Atlantics, has been a long-standing member of Mental As Anything, and currently performs with Australian rock institution The Radiators as well as working with Dave Warner. His extensive recording career has also included songwriting, production and session work.
Cilia’s connection with instrumental guitar stretches back decades. His work with The Atlantics and his solo recordings have helped keep the classic Australian surf-guitar tradition alive while introducing it to new generations of listeners. His 2024 album Dawn of the Surf Guitar, for example, deliberately drew on the early-’60s instro/surf sound while incorporating a contemporary perspective, with Cilia recording using real guitars, amplifiers and microphones and keeping digital processing to a minimum.
That balance between reverence for the past and a desire to create something new continues with Instromania. Rather than simply revisiting familiar surf-guitar formulas, the album presents 12 fresh Cilia compositions shaped by the sounds, techniques and atmosphere of the era that first inspired him to pick up a guitar.
For Cilia, the appeal remains simple: great songs, great guitar playing and great sound.
“I hope you get as much enjoyment listening to these 12 fresh tracks as I did recording them.”
Instromania is available now via Martin Cilia’s digital platforms and follows an extensive solo discography that has established him as one of Australia’s foremost instrumental guitarists.