THE STEVE HOWE ALBUM

I've been listening to several of the latest Steve Howe's albums, including his 1999 cover of Bob Dylan's songs ("Portraits of Bob Dylan"), but nothing has as strong appeal as this one. With this, Howe, who started his solo projects in 1975 with "Beginnings", put many original and unique compositions no one will be able to associate them with his group Yes.

Few would doubt Howe's virtuosity. But as if it wasn't enough, in this second solo effort Howe bravely displays himself also as an adventurer, cruising into relatively new territory -- at least compare to what he has been doing with Yes -- and exposing his mastery of crafting beautiful arrangements in which he incorporates varied guitars and their characters and sounds. Country and classical music are his choice of settings where he puts himself in.

Howe brilliantly opens this album with "Pennants", which serves perfectly as a tone setter; it helps any doubtful listener to happily enter the gate Howe already opened. The intro starts with a rocking Fender Telecaster, before Howe adds another stringed instruments such as mandolin and steel guitar. Yes-mate drummer Alan White, who participates in this album along with Bill Bruford and Patrick Moraz, contributes a tight playing.

My favorite cuts including "All's a Chord", a huge showcase of Howe's proficient in playing eight different instruments (this could have been much better if Howe had not sing); "Look Over Your Shoulder", a song featuring beautiful vocals of Claire Hamill; "Surface Tension", a solo Spanish guitar; and, of course, the final two tracks, "Concerto in D, Second Movement" and "Double Rondo", in which Howe is accompanied by a string ensemble.

This deserves to be a classic. Or, at least, it is among those albums that are always getting better with each listening.