Customer Reviews

Personae

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Personae" is Hellborg, Lane, and Sipe returning to their electric fusion roots. After going acoustic in "Zenhouse" and dabbling in world music on "Good people in..." the threesome gives us some of what they do best. This is a 2002 release but the songs were recorded in Germany at about the same time as "Time is The Enemy". This disc is absolutely awesome. All of the songs(six of them) are different versions from the other Hellborg/Lane discs. The disc starts off with "Time is the Enemy". This tune is both an extended version of "Stellar Rays" from Michael Shrieve's "Two Doors" cd and an alternate version to the title track from the disc of the same name. Regardless of what Shawn/Jonas decide to call it this is a piece for Shawn to go ballistic in, and he does. This doesn't have quite the same amount of pyrotechnics as the other "Time is the Enemy" but it gives the listener a good idea of what they are in store for. The second tune is entitled "Rag B/B" and is a twenty plus minute improvisation. The main theme is taken from "Temporal Analogues of Paradise". All three musicians let loose on this song. It is nice to hear Sipe given the freedom that he wasn't on "Time is the Enemy". Next is the title track. This is a reworking of "Juvalamu" also from the "Two Doors" cd. "Personae" is another Shawn showcase and he is his usual amazing self. "Heretics" is next and there is a version of this on "Time is the Enemy". This version is better because all three musicians are given ample room to express themselves. Once again it is nice to hear Sipe. "Hell is Other People" is also a reworking of a tune from "Two Doors". The tune was called "Deep Umbra". This tune is one of the greatest examples of combining virtuostic technique with emotional depth. Hellborg and Lane are both awe-inspiring on this one. The closer is a short version of "Rice with the Angels" from the "Abstract Logic" cd. This tune is a showstopper for Shawn. He unveils all of his tricks on this one and the guitar insanity will give him a larger network of fans. If you liked the original version of "Time is the Enemy" then your jaw will drop once again to this. Although "Personae" is really a best of, to the people that have all the Shawn/Jonas electric fusion, it is a live best of and probably the best cd that these guys have released for the following reasons.(1) All of the songs are great and combine improv within a written framework.(2)We get to hear more of Sipe than ever.(3) This is the best that I have ever heard Jonas play(and that is saying a lot)(4) Shawn is his typical unearthly self and this is his best playing other than the "616/G.I.T." video(which was his music). If you are looking for improvisational fusion this is for you. Nobody does it better than these guys and this is the best thing that they have done. JUST GET IT!!!!

Well...where do I begin. Well, for starts, I will claim this disc a treasure. Thru both persistance and curiousity I have aquired something that is truly inspirational. It has the right blend of attitude, rawness, and that extra special chutzpah that puts it into that special pantheon of other recordings that have had a similar effect on me. The select guitar albums in this pantheon are, Zappa's 'Shut Up N' Play Yer Guitar', Holdsworth's 'The Sixteen Men Of Tain' & Vai's 'The Ultra Zone' & 'Passion & Warfare'. 'Personae' is included with these pivotal and amazing recordings. It honestly does. These select recordings make me really wanna play. I definately can't carry a conversation or do anything else when listening to these and they suck my 'guitar-freak' mind into a unexplainable vortex. I've listened to the album more than a dozen times in a 3 day period. It was pricy but worth every cent. It hit me big time. It's theory may be heavily rooted in jazz improvisation but it totally rocks and rips with grace and beauty. I'm really glad I got this. 2 Big thumbs UP.

Another masterpiece from one of the greatest trios of all time! They play tunes from Deep Umbra-Michael Shrieve; except Jeff Sipe playing the drums(and he really burns the place to the ground!) The gods kick off with a blistering version of Time is the Enemy (a.k.a Stellar Rays from the Deep Umbra CD), continue with Rag B/B; 24 minute version of Baraji from the Michael Shrieve album. At the 7th minute Shawn heads the runway, than take off!; at 9th min they cool down with Jonas taking the lead, this time Jonas heads the runway around 12th min.And at 16th min Jeff Sipe starts to give a shout, than rolls like thunder!!! Than comes Personae (My fav track from Deep Umbra) and Heretics. 5th tune, Hell is Other People (title track from the Deep Umbra CD) is also awesome! Jonas plays superb, Shawn plays sooo soulful! The album ends with Rice With Angels from Abstract Logic, I can`t find enough word to say about this track, just crank it up and wake your neighbours up! By the way the sound quality of the CD is better than Time is the Enemy which I would recommend as well.

I give powers of 10 million stars to this recording. Simply, buy this album, you won`t be disappointed! Uhh Also catch these incredible musicians on tour...

When Shawn Lane died in 2003, only the most esoteric reaches of the guitar world recognized what a contribution he had made to the instrument. Here he is teamed up with just about the only other bass player and drummer you could ever imagine him with. Hellborg and Sipe compliment Shawn so uncannily, it's almost a match from another universe, and it adds up to a mindblowing musical experience. These guys create musical excitement that very few bands can ever achieve. When they lock in together, you find yourself lunging for the volume control because you want to be more and more blasted away by their mastery. You can't stick a credit card between these guys, they are so tight, and keep in mind this is a live recording. Some people have mentioned that Shawn might have been the fastest guitarist ever, and when you hear him on Rice with the Angels, you very clearly see why they would say that. He lets loose with such an absolute hailstorm of notes it almost seems impossible someone could be producing these sounds. I don't know if Joe Satriani or Steve Vai ever asked Shawn to join them on the G3 tour, but my guess is they would think it wasn't helpful for their job security. Anyway, if you want to hear the superlative power fusion trio of our time, don't miss this album!

I was first introduced to Hellborg with his "Octave of the Holy Innocents" album. I have learned to love the creativity and pure insanity of this fusion artist. This album is shred-fest 2002. Everyone of the musicians are top notch and play with such perfection. For anyone out there who is into Fusion/Prog/Shred, this is a definite must for your collection!
One of my first thoughts on this c.d was that the music wasn't that organized and it was kind of improv. The more I listened to it, the more I realized how organized the construction of every song actually is. BUY THIS ALBUM!!!

This album has the power and imagination of vintage Mahavishnu and Lifetime. The band really burn on this one. Simply superb.

Shaw Lane was the the unsung hero of jazz rock guitar. Technically as facile as a Mclaughlin or Corryell, with the visceral sonic power of a Sharrock or Hendrix

This CD is great. It is so nice to hear progressive music of this caliber in the year 2002. Of course, you will never here this great music on any of your local radio stations. Most listeners wouldn't get the music. These guys are keeping the jazz/fusion field of music alive and well. All songs are instrumental. It is amazing how just 3 guys can create such a full sound. Shawn Lane keeps everything colorful with his amazing guitar playing, while Jonas and Jeff keep a powerful steady groove going underneath it all. Music is a cross between Allan Holdsworth and Joe Satriani. All songs are live, which is also amazing considering how tight the music is. Do yourself a favor. If you really want some brand new progressive rock/fusion, buy this CD. You won't be disappointed. The only thing I didn't care for was the artwork on the cover.

If you are looking at this, you should already know the giant talents of these three musicians. Collectively, they cohesed into more than the sum of their already impressive parts. Easily the best fusion supergroup since Mahavishnu Orchestra, another fave, and no doubt of these three as well (Jonas Hellborg was in a later 80' version of M.O.). Jonas is, as always, amazing, Sipe is spellbinding, and Shawn Lane is, well, at the top of his game here, which is really saying something. Lest you think this is the same material and you just want to hear Shawn shred, please listen to the emotion and musical nuances present in the title track "Personae". It starts off with a slinky groove, and soon develops into a melodic feast. Then, slowly building up, Shawn works his magic, ultimately burning up the stratosphere with some of THE FASTEST guitar ever played. It will make your jaw drop and your finger instinctively reach for the rewind button to confirm if what you just heard was real. This has so much to offer, I can recommend this to anyone who likes fusion, rock, or jazz. This is truly a fitting example of the late great Shawn Lane and his musical legacy, enhanced by the immense talents of Jeff Sipe and Jonas Hellborg, who may be some of the most talented musicians and managed to outshine themselves and each other by what they created when they came together.

If you really love music, BUY THIS CD! The music and the musicianship is light years ahead, yet are appreciable now!

Guitar "shredding" is not usually an appealing sound to me...it sometimes seems pointless and indulgent...but the pyrotechnics here from guitarist Lane (and he does sometimes just seem to shred ballistically) are balanced by more textured sounds and an attention to melody and harmony for an overall feel of intense musical energy. It means even the extended jams are worthwhile to listen to all the way through. This CD rocks and the sounds are memorable. Drummer Jeff Sipe is amazingly sharp and creative for a rock drummer. If anything, it is Hellborg who fades into the background a bit here.