FUGAZI

I cannot wait anymore to review this record: This record contains maybe the best guitar solos in the history of music. It is not a question of speed here; it is rather a question of sounding near the perfection. The electric guitar solos are at their best, especially the solo on "Jigsaw", which is, in my opinion maybe the best one in the history of music, at least near Eddie Van Halen's eruption: I've never heard a more pure, loud and clean Fender Stratocaster sound than on this track. The track is not extremely good, but this guitar solo is extremely refined: Steve Rothery plays each note with a rare precision and powerfulness; he also demonstrates great passion. The use of a Gibson Les Paul on She Cameleon produces another EXTREME guitar solo, not fast at all, but each note is sustained to the maximum through impressive echo effect , giving this extreme feeling of grandeur. Even David GILMOUR, an excellent guitarist, in my opinion, does not sound as grand as here. Another extreme solo is on "Incubus", but this one is more elegant, more romantic, very well structured, with an outstanding sound again. On "Assassing", there is another great solo, more merged with the beat but having a very nervous highly pitched sound.

This album is not only excellent because of the guitar: The production is absolutely top sharp: the sound and ambience are at their best. There is so much echo that when some track finish, you still hear that powerful background fading due to the omnipresent echo. The keyboards are so colorful!! Very varied too, they are extremely dynamic, floating and also melodic, always giving this unique clean atmosphere. Just hear the extremely dynamic moog solo on "Assassing": rarely seen; or when the keyboards and rythmic guitar suddenly take all the room on "Emerald Lies": terrific! Do not forget the bass: very loud, bottom and present, it is not extremely complex but its sound is really not timid. Actually, no instruments are timid, even not the drum. The lyrics are extremely refined, and FISH has always this skill to sing it with originality and humour. This is their most accessible record IMO. Not as dark as the other ones, it is even refreshing and stimulating. We can compare this listening experience to the refreshing effect of a mint candy in your mouth. Yes, it sounds pop; no, it is not pop; yes it is very progressive; no, they did not copied GENESIS.

Very recommended!