Firstly thank you Mr Sherinian for being so prolific in your output. You do provide your audience with a wonderful range of different styles to listen and choose from - Planet X, Black Country Communion, solo metallic insanity to this quality rock fusion offering.
Although much of this material may sound derivative - a little like a Jeff Beck album, a little like a rocking Toto instrumental album, or maybe a Los Lobotomys outing, there is not enough of this style of hard fusion rock played by quality players. The compositions are structured and never too long to invite meaningless wandering. Even on first listen I found these catchy and stirring in the style of rock fusion.
After the first three tracks I was already relaxed knowing that more was to come. Firstly just listen to the quality of the recording and hats off to Simon Phillips for once again knowing how to record and mix this intense fusion. How do I describe the overall sound other than Simon Phillips achieves a warm, rich mix without any loss of clarity or punch. And then if that wasn't enough, he is the master fusion rock drummer. Interestingly he plays the same monster 7/8 'Space Boogie' drum pattern that he played for Jeff Beck on the 'There and Back' album on the second track of Oceana, 'Mercury 7'. This is accompanied with impressive/breath-taking MacAlpine guitaring. As this is Simon Phillips recorded some 21 years after his Jeff Beck recording, the drum mix is so much better. (I'm glad I've got the album for this track alone).
The opening 'Five Elements' is a scorcher with a wonderful organ backdrop behind some menacing MacAlpine guitar sizzle. This is probably the best track of the album which bridges to some unusual Sherinian jazzy piano before returning to the menace. Steve Lukather plays on three of the tracks and the quality shines through with wonderful interplay between spacey keyboard sounds and Lukather's guitar tones.
'Ghost Runner' for all its great playing is too derivative of Beck and Hammer and particularly 'El Camino Diablo' which starts promisingly and then rips off almost note for note the exact riff from 'You know what I mean' on Beck's 'Blow by blow' album - it's even in the exact key. Maybe I am missing something but this was definitely too close for comfort with the Jeff Beck classic and Jan Hammer tones and runs (although outdoing anything Jan did!) I'd have preferred them to have just played a great Beck cover like they did on 'Inertia'. Nothing wrong with a cover paying tribute.
This is a guitar festival of maestros - Tony MacAlpine, Steve Lukather, Steve Stephens, Joe Bonamassa and Doug Aldrich all backed by the legendary session bassist Jimmy Johnson (primary bassist for Allan Holdsworth, Michael Landau and James Taylor). These guitarists all work to support the overall album rather than trying to win a guitar battle - highly commendable. And the tracks are striving for that something more. Using the second last track as an example, 'Seven Sins' a dramatic building rock outing finally goes into a bridge where Derek plays a magnificent solo that culminates with the rest of the band coming in however it returns to the light melodic head and never seems to regain the intensity. The album ends with 'Oceana' a track that could almost pass for a Joe Satriani ballad other than this has more richness with combined keyboard, bass and guitar lines.
Overall this seemed like the sister album to Derek's earlier solo album 'Inertia'. It is a good 4 star outing because of the quality of musicians,compositions and recording and because of the unselfish supportive nature of Sherinian. This may be a solo keyboard album but he has produced a stellar rock band offering. Yes, you hear the entire gamut of jazzy piano to B-3 Hammond organ and spacey keys but always to intertwine with lead guitars producing rich tones and sonic delight.
For Sherinian, Lukather, Phillips, Jeff Beck and rock fusion fans - don't hesitate - this one you'll return to for many enjoyable listens. I would pay 'top dollar' to see a tour of these legends! Which means I'd fly to Sydney from New Zealand for this one. What about a tour 'down under' to Australia...?
PS: Read an excellently written review of this album. See Raffaella Berry's review in the Dutch Progressive Rock Page. This is incisive , punchy writing and my appreciation for this album increased. Wish I could write like this!
Although much of this material may sound derivative - a little like a Jeff Beck album, a little like a rocking Toto instrumental album, or maybe a Los Lobotomys outing, there is not enough of this style of hard fusion rock played by quality players. The compositions are structured and never too long to invite meaningless wandering. Even on first listen I found these catchy and stirring in the style of rock fusion.
The opening 'Five Elements' is a scorcher with a wonderful organ backdrop behind some menacing MacAlpine guitar sizzle. This is probably the best track of the album which bridges to some unusual Sherinian jazzy piano before returning to the menace. Steve Lukather plays on three of the tracks and the quality shines through with wonderful interplay between spacey keyboard sounds and Lukather's guitar tones.
'Ghost Runner' for all its great playing is too derivative of Beck and Hammer and particularly 'El Camino Diablo' which starts promisingly and then rips off almost note for note the exact riff from 'You know what I mean' on Beck's 'Blow by blow' album - it's even in the exact key. Maybe I am missing something but this was definitely too close for comfort with the Jeff Beck classic and Jan Hammer tones and runs (although outdoing anything Jan did!) I'd have preferred them to have just played a great Beck cover like they did on 'Inertia'. Nothing wrong with a cover paying tribute.
This is a guitar festival of maestros - Tony MacAlpine, Steve Lukather, Steve Stephens, Joe Bonamassa and Doug Aldrich all backed by the legendary session bassist Jimmy Johnson (primary bassist for Allan Holdsworth, Michael Landau and James Taylor). These guitarists all work to support the overall album rather than trying to win a guitar battle - highly commendable. And the tracks are striving for that something more. Using the second last track as an example, 'Seven Sins' a dramatic building rock outing finally goes into a bridge where Derek plays a magnificent solo that culminates with the rest of the band coming in however it returns to the light melodic head and never seems to regain the intensity. The album ends with 'Oceana' a track that could almost pass for a Joe Satriani ballad other than this has more richness with combined keyboard, bass and guitar lines.
Overall this seemed like the sister album to Derek's earlier solo album 'Inertia'. It is a good 4 star outing because of the quality of musicians,compositions and recording and because of the unselfish supportive nature of Sherinian. This may be a solo keyboard album but he has produced a stellar rock band offering. Yes, you hear the entire gamut of jazzy piano to B-3 Hammond organ and spacey keys but always to intertwine with lead guitars producing rich tones and sonic delight.
For Sherinian, Lukather, Phillips, Jeff Beck and rock fusion fans - don't hesitate - this one you'll return to for many enjoyable listens. I would pay 'top dollar' to see a tour of these legends! Which means I'd fly to Sydney from New Zealand for this one. What about a tour 'down under' to Australia...?
PS: Read an excellently written review of this album. See Raffaella Berry's review in the Dutch Progressive Rock Page. This is incisive , punchy writing and my appreciation for this album increased. Wish I could write like this!
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