Short but sweet: this 24-plus-minute re-release of an '80s-era solo effort originally appeared as a vinyl EP, and has never before been issued on CD. It is a unique mix of great vocals with a more rocking, bluesy, and jazzy quasi-mainstream song-themed balladic thrust. This release showcases
Allan Holdsworth playing less "out there." Don't misunderstand -- the guitar is amazing: multi-voiced, fusion-fired, ethereally chorded, delightfully crystalline clear, note-flourished, and swooningly embellished. Add in the vocals of
Jack Bruce for that
Cream flashback or the
I.O.U. band feel of
Paul Williams' crooning, back to back with killer bass by
Jeff Berlin and tastefully poised drums by
Chad Wackerman, and you have fusion-rock bliss.
Holdsworth addicts have waited a very long time for this to appear in the CD format. So go for it. It sounds great all over again. The original album cover graphics and notes are included.
–
John W. Patterson, Rovi