SAND

I always still amazed whenever I spin this album especially on the sound that if I do not read the sleeve I would say that is produced by keyboard' It is not because Allan mentioned that there was no keyboard and the like used in most of his albums and he called his keyboard sound-like guitar with synthaxe. Whatever - but the sound is truly like a keyboard sound. For example, track "sand" is opened with an ambient sound that sounds like a keyboard exploration. It leads then to a full music venture with the entrance oh Gary's drums. The music is characterized by synthaxe as soloist in medium tempo with jazzy style. "The 4.15 Bradford Executive" also starts with a combination of synthaxe and drums (this time is by Chad Wackerman). Even though this track is opened with relatively long repeated chords that sound bit boring but when the music changes its style with "conventional" Holdsworth guitar-playing it's become an interesting composition. Drum work is quite dynamics with many improvisational styles that make this track is a good one to enjoy even though the overall song sounds like disjointed segments.

As the name implies, "Mac Man" is a track about Mac Computer as Holdsworth brought in a musician John Endland to look after Mac Computer as part of the instruments used here. It starts with a combination of drum (Chad) and Mac Computer work through pre- programmed sounds / loop combined with Holdsworth's synthaxe. The overall music sounds like an industrial style with some electric drum sounds. "Pud Wody" is a good track with guest appearance by Allan Pasqua performing keyboard solo.

It's a good album from the guitar master that prog lover who can appreciate jazz rock fusion music should own a copy of it. Keep on proggin' .!