VELVET DARKNESS

Perhaps not "essential" for the general listener, but definitely essential for the Holdsworth fan, and a fan of this particular sound. Sure, it sounds a bit rough but so did many exciting fusion albums from the '70's. Some listeners actually appreciate the feel of a jam session. While Mr. Holdsworth has certainly matured and polished his sound over the years, and while the manner in which this album was released was unfair, rough as it is, a gem still worth a listen. I believe it has a sound unique to Holdsworth's other work and ought to be heard, perhaps with the disclaimer that it is somewhat of a "live" album and not considered by Holdsworth to be a "finished" work.