| The
Review |
Yes guitarist Howe gets credit
for consistant activity in recent years, as well as innovative
guitar work. In between Yes tours and projects, Steve Howe
has been blazing a parallel solo trail and has been releasing
solo albums on Insideout Music every year without fail since
the decade began. This includes an acoustic album(Natural
Timbre, 2001), a somewhat new age set (Skyline,2002), a semi-swinging
'group' project REMEDY(Elements, 2003), and another set of
demos(Homebrew 3, 2005). With his latest disc, 2005's 'SPECTRUM',
Howe does what he does, nothing really more or less. Plenty
of tasteful guitar work in various lighter styles: ranging
from twangy country styling to classy jazz, classic rock &
roll guitar instrumentals & modern ragtime, maybe even a spot
of psychedelia thrown in for good measure.***
As a whole, however, it can't be
considered a groundbreaking moment in his career, there aren't
any new tricks to discover. SPECTRUM is a little bit predictable,
but still pleasant. The professionalism of the guitarwork
and compositions are kinda Howe-by-numbers. You know every
sound before you hear it, you can even imagine Steve's face
contorting as he bends a couple top strings, almost see him
bob his head like a rooster during some of the funkier solos.
But again, these are not particularly negative aspects. It's
all very classy, and very professional. Just that if you were
listening for Steve to do anything particularly different,
it's not going to be on this album. A similar recording for
a referrence point from Steve Howe would be his album 'QUANTUM
GUITAR'(1998). Spectrum is also entirely instrumental like
Quantum Guitar, but lacks the 'mysterious' vibe, with a more
'fun' atmosphere instead. Not quite as rocking as 1991's TURBULENCE,
though.***
Spectrum is another family affair,
with Steve being augmented by his sons Virgil and Dylan, along
with Rick's son Oliver Wakeman, as well as Tony Levin. Sadly,
Levin is a little unnoticable on this record, which is slightly
frustrating. Dylan IS very noticable and has grown into a
decent drummer, with a style similar to Alan White, I suppose,
just a little jazzier. He has been playing with his dad the
longest. And of course Steve plays about 900 different guitars
on the album, and anything else that may have strings on it.
Lots of different textures and good clean sound. Some of the
more twangy or funky bits are even....funny to listen to.
Hard to explain, but the music certainly doesn't take itself
as seriously as some would make it out to be. It's a pleasant
listen. I won't go into individual tracks here, they all sport
a degree of similarity. The first track 'TIGER'S DEN' is a
bopping piece of rock & roll, and the most obvious track for
an opener. The rest can be randomly shuffled around on your
disc player, any sequence is as good as any.***
Perhaps next time out, Howe should
try something a little more radical or different. Perhaps
a duo record with Bill Bruford, if either ever had the time.
Not as a 'reunion of Yes-related artists' type thing, but
as an album of good guitar jazz with acoustic drums, regardless
of a Yes connection or not. I could see the musical success
of a project like that. Just guitar and drums. But in the
meantime, SPECTRUM can provide a good solid hour's worth of
classy, tried & true Steve Howe guitar playing.
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