OUT AND OUT

Side Steps were primarly a live beast and what followed the release of ''Steps on Edge'' was three years full of monster live activity.From these intense performances two live works came out, ''Live 96'' and ''Live 97'', issued in the respective years.But soon enough another studio effort was to be prepared and its recordings finished at the end of 97'.The new album ''Out & out'' was released on Marquee in Japan and Musea Records in Europe.

Six long instrumental tracks full of technical and virtuosic plays is the offer of Side Steps on this work with the opening ''Another Encounter'' carrying on the style of the previous album, somewhere between MR. SIRIUS and ALLAN HOLDSWORTH, with dynamic and angular guitar solos and lovely keyboard textures with a light symphonic touch.As the album unfolds the Jazz Rock inspirations become more evident with extended improvised parts thrown in well-crafted compositions.The band however never the abandons the smooth melodic themes with evidence on the synthesizers and piano of Itoh, but the style becomes more and more guitar-driven with pronounced jazzy influences and powerful Jazz/Fusion breaks and gears.''Go Together'' shows a different side of the group, a somewhat relaxed New Age/Jazz piece with mellow guitars, bass and keyboards around.The main core of the album though is full of intense interplays and extreme solos with also lots of scratching rhythmic parts and some more dissonant textures.The lighter moments with the calm guitar solos and the dreamy pianos recall also the works of GARY MOORE.Very solid album with some of the best guitar parts you can meet in the genre.

No question, this is another must-have for lovers of Jazz/Fusion and rising guitar heroes.But the album can be a pleasant listening for anyone loving tight and virtuosic instrumental Progressive Rock with jazzy colors.Recommended.