SAND

This album is quite unusual for Holdsworth guitar sound fans, but it doesn't mean it's bad one. Main difference is there are only one full size classic Holdsworth's guitar composition ( "Pud Wud", with Alan Pasqua's great keyboards on it). All others are very experimental, and the listener will be surprised because many of them don't sound as guitar- based jazz-fusion at all.

The reason is Holdsworth uses Synthaxe guitar on this album. It is device combining usual electric guitar with breath controller and synthesizer. So, beside playing as with usual electric guitar, musician has the possibility to use it for getting unusual sounds as from sax or keyboards. So, in many compositions you can hear keyboards-like sound which in reality is a sound of Holdsworth guitar.

As a result, this album contains very different music, only part of which is fusion. Many other sounds and rhythm structures gave to the music more experimental character. Main problem for listener possibly is that being a highly experimental in sense of using new instrument technologies, too often music itself is placed on the second plan. And sometimes you will feel as you are listening a demonstration of new device abilities.

The musicians team are great, and Holsdsworth talent is used in his full , so album still became a nice work. Possibly, more attractive for new sound searchers, than for Holdsworth's guitar sound fans.

Not less than 3,5.