Customer Reviews

Heavy Machinery

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This disk has been in my CD carosel since I bought it. It is a joy to hear Holdsworth playing in top form. The drumming is equally superb. I love this disk! It just plain works from end to end, I wish these guys would tour together. Holdsworth hasn't done anything this great for many years. The keyboard work is equal to the task of accenting and one-upping Holdsworth, not since Jobson has anyone played as well off Holdsworth. If you like fusion played by virtuoso musicians, you are in for a real treat with this disk. We gotta have more!

The track, "Joint Ventures" is worth the price of this disc alone. This tune has it all; groovism, hooks, shredding, fusion and feel! It's raw collaboration of the musical minds in this collective. Jens wears many hats on this track. He plays the bass via his synth. It's heavy and has total groove. He also plays the rhythm rock organ parts of course. He also plays the screaming, lead melody that hooks the listener instantly.

The "B" section of this tune proceeds to introduce the incomparable Alan Holdsworth and his synth-axe, "uncommon chord" work as a back drop for Jens as he jams out a solo bass groove (on keys remember but few will be able to tell). The modulations in the following sections are total "Holdsworthian". What a treat for the listener. Alan then takes the forefront with steller guitar solo work that is nothing short of brilliant only to be melded into a solo takeover by Jens on lead keys for yet another breathtaking solo section. This tune has incredible feel and groovism. The rest of the disc is simply icing on the cake. This tune is that good!

BUY IT RIGHT NOW!

Gawd. Allan Holdsworth takes virtuoso jazz fusion guitar to an entire new level. Unlike other guitarists of his league, like Shawn Lane, he is a level above. His freestyle fusion chops are ALL melodic and played at hyperspeeds yet they remain just perfect sounding. Don't get me wrong Shawn Lane is excellent but Allan Holdsworth is something else. Not to mention that his music is impossible to play unless your fingers are 12 inches long. And did I mention the overall CD sounds absolutely phenomenal and beautiful and each song conveys a different feeling? I think Allan also did bass (?) and the basswork is incredible, the basslines are thoughtful and original. The drumming is amazing as well, I had no idea Yngwie's drummer could do this type of jazz, however it is rather metal-influenced jazz drumming with double bass work in there. The keyboards float through and give Allan the perfect backing, and more often than not trade solos with Allan. All the players on this CD are simply amazing. This is one of the tighest most amazing groups I've ever heard. I can't stop raving about this CD. I only wish they'd do another one.

This is one of the best jazz fusion albums I've heard in a long time. Holdsworth takes a step back in time to the days of the late Tony Williams and the Johansson's fill a fusion void I never thought possible. The drumming is reminiscent of Williams and Cobham. The keyboard work reminds me of Jan Hammer unchained. The combination of them all is an amazing chemistry that I hope repeats itself in the future. Speed, clarity, and improvisation are all self evident. An everyone album- musician and listener. Get it now.

the keyboard and synth-bass playing is top level on this cd. really infectious low lines topped by great organ, other keyboards and holdsworth playing his *!# off all over the place. Three virtuosos, a lot of [guts]. good composition. Quite recomendable for holdsworth fans, and for guitarrists that have not heard him...

One of the best fusion albums ever recorded! Completely
overlooked. Don't know many people who have this
CD or know anything about it. I am a fan of fusion and have
listened to Allan since he was with Bruford on his first solo
album. I have seen Allan several times in concert (including
with the first U.K. lineup). I want to tell everyone that this
CD just smokes!! You must listen to it loud!!

A very fine , very exciting set of jazz rock fusion, and it's a special treat for anyone who's been waiting for guitarist Alan Holdsworth to step on the gas and burn the frets. As has been said in another review posted here, Holdsworth has the uncommon ability to jump registers, accelerate through his chromatics and not lose the thread of his ideas. This is way you make every note fit within the sliding rhythms and offbeats you're negotiating space with and still maintain a coherent line of musical thinking. Bravo, and more, please.

Alan Holdsworth is definately a note worthy guitarist. I've heard some music from Anders and Jens Johanasson when they were in Yngwie's band. Unfortunately, the tunes sound a bit stale. The tone from Jens' keyboard went out in the early 80's, and Holdsworth's tone is from a similar era. Don't get me wrong. The drumming is very good, with emphasis on double bass technique. I would have appreciated more cymbal/hi-hat work. Anders could have picked up a thing or two from Dennis Chambers, or Carter Beauford (Dave Matthews Band). I do enjoy this disc, but feel that the production was left somewhere between The Breakfast Club and Rocky IV. It seems the only constant in life is change...unless you're on this disc.

I like some of Holdsworth work here, but all-in-all a piece of work that sounds like it was just thrown together with not much thought (or excitement) behind it.

It must be challenging for someone like Holdsworth to find people who speak his auditory language--here he has found some kin. Like, Husband and Wackerman it must be comforting to find skin-men who can walk in the same footsteps. I recall seeing him perform at the NAMM show '81 or was is '83?, anyway, to watch the reaction of Eddie Van Halen, Tommy Tedesco, Rich Dixon(SLC), Al DiMeola and others was well worth the trip. At first they would watch with knowing nods at each other, then they would see him do something supernatural and their heads shook "no!" in disbelief, then there was the jaws hitting the floor scene. I was laughing out loud because the musical ideas were so surprising and ingenious, yeah, outrageous. I will never forget it, nor will I miss an opportunity to pick up fresh material or see the show live. You'd better not either! Sure, his music is lost on a lot of people--I am just grateful he has stuck with his principles and put out his work for those of us who have our ears in the right place to enjoy. I recall his concert at Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah). I heard people asking, where are the synthesizers? I said, "He makes all the sounds with guitar, effects and his trusty mixer and volume pedals". But nobody believed. As is typical for the Mormon crowd, which I am one, innovative music does not find an audience. Most of the show was lost on that audience. Or, the audience was utterly lost. He would have had to cover some Carpenters tunes to reach them. It was the manager's mistake to book him there, perhaps, but I am grateful to have been the beneficiary. Happy Landings!