PROGRESSIVE

Finnish guitarist Jartse Tuominen has been building a career mostly in the USA - as a guitarist (sponsored by Gibson), composer, producer, and as a founder/organizer of GTR-Tour. He has released five albums officially since 1999, but this album was recorded ten years before its larger release, in 1991. It features Kilroy Koskimies on bass and Matti Takala on drums. All seven instrumental tracks are composed by Tuominen.

The opening piece 'Snack' is a lively jazz-rocker in a breath-taking fast tempo. The guitarist's and his bandmates' technical competence is amazing, no doubt, but frankly that's about the only thing that impresses me in this one. 'Flying With You' starts softly but accelerates into a faster tempo before the halfway. There are keyboards involved, even though the album info doesn't mention any keyboards, and my CD is a promo disc without the full information. Anyway, this brilliant fusion track is my favourite. 'First' returns to the adrenalin-fueled speed and technical boistering.

'Scare' builds the intense atmosphere with a march-like drumming and a wailing guitar on top of the repetitive and simple melodic phrase. As expected, the playing gets wilder but there's not much of other progression in the composition itself. 'Sledgehammer' hits hard exactly the same way as the first and third high-tempo tracks. I rather concentrate on the excellence of bassist and drummer in it. 'One Night in Tokyo' (8:02) is the longest -- 'Flying With You' close behind -- but at this point I'm up to my ears of that killer speed, and despite the length the piece has not much of else to offer. Well, there's a brief middle-part focusing on buzuki, as if a moment to catch one's breath before the run continues. 'Shaving Cream Man' gave an earlier reviewer some associations of Moving Pictures -era RUSH, and yes, I've got them too. Also this one's in a fast tempo but maybe there's slightly more dynamics in the composition and arrangement than in other fast numbers.

I guess I made it pretty clear what this music is primarily all about: technical brilliance and fast playing, starring electric guitar. If that's what you wish to hear, look no further, but personally I'm having a more critical view than all the others who have rated this album. Good, but not exactly my cup of tea, thank you.