TURBULENCE

Turbulence is Steve Howe's third solo album, and his first since The Steve Howe Album in 1979. In addition to Howe, who plays guitar and bass throughout, the primary musicians are drummer Bill Bruford and keyboardist Billy Currie. Howe composed the songs, all of which are instrumentals.

Although this isn't Howe's most ambitious work, it's the best of his first four albums because it's focused on a clear goal - - melodic art rock led by Howe's electric guitar playing. As has been pointed out, much of it sounds like Union, the Yes album released the same year, although they only have one song with any common passages ("Sensitive Chaos" here and Union's "I Would Have Waited Forever"). Bruford, who also appears on Union, is excellent throughout. (Nigel Glockner plays the acoustic drums on two songs here, while Bruford uses what I assume is his period Simmons (electronic) kit.)

Turbulence is a strong offering from Howe, and one I can comfortably recommend to Yes fans as well as fans of instrumental, guitar-based rock.