Mike Oldfield - Earth Moving Remastered 1989

Mike Oldfield - Earth Moving Remastered

Mike Oldfield is an icon of New Age music. This album is a but another like others, because there are only songs no instrumental tracks. For those of you who are expecting QE2 or something from Mike Oldfield's earliest style, you'd be really surprised at how wonderful this album is. I've had it for years and it really has become one of my favorites, very spiritual, musically so beautifully composed and performed.

This is an atypical Oldfield work in a lot of ways. Oldfield, an extraordinarily talented multi-instrumentalist, made his name recording albums where (through the miracle of overdubbing) he played the vast majority of the instruments himself. Here he uses plenty of other musicians. The composition on this album are also unlike a lot of his other work.

Have been listening to Mike Oldfield for 20 years, no one can tell me this album isn't one of his best!

Highly recommended for verey music fan.

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Hiram Bullock - Plays The Music Of Jimi Hendrix 2009

Hiram Bullock - Plays The Music Of Jimi Hendrix

Widely acclaimed session guitarist Hiram Bullock pays homage to guitar innovator (and obvious influence) Jimi Hendrix on this dynamic live set. Recorded in 2004 in Germany with legendary jazz fusion drummer Billy Cobham and the WDR Big Band on board, Bullock and crew burn through seven Hendrix classics including "Foxy Lady," "Voodoo Child," and "Manic Depression." With Bullock's fiery fret-shredding leading the way, PLAYS THE MUSIC OF JIMI HENDRIX is not only a fitting tribute to the guitar hero, but a muscular, exciting workout in its own right. The only sad thing is that this great guitarist can not even play anymore - RIP. But this album is very great, and a must have for every Jimi fan.

Highly recommended for every guitar fan.

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KTU - 8 Armed Monkey 2005

KTU - 8 Armed Monkey

Take one accordion/sampling duo with a penchant for electronic effects and unclassifiable weirdness; add one beastly rhythm section known for pushing boundaries whenever possible. Combine, shake & stir lightly, stand back and let develop for a couple months. KTU - pronounced K2 - is the combined forces of TU (Trey Gunn and Pat Mastelotto) and Kluster (Samuli Kosminen and Kimmo Pohjonen). Some of their musical personalities might be familiar to some of us, but that can't prepare you for the melting pot that is 8-Armed Monkey. This is a surreal mix of semi-avant-garde, world-beat and jazz that manages the rare trick of being innovative throughout but always listenable and it's one of the most addictingly forward-thinking albums I've heard in a good long while. If you've ever wondered how King Crimson's ProjeKcts would have turned out if they'd gone tribal rather than electronic, or what a Jaco Pastorius/Mickey Hart/John Zorn collaboration might have sounded like in some parallel universe, here's your chance. Don't let the accordion scare you off - I'm not that fond of the instrument either, but this is the first project where I've been able to listen to it without being reminded of polka or klezmer music. That alone is a treat. If there's any reference point at all for this stuff, it's either Can (think Ege Bamyasi/Tago Mago) or electric Miles Davis (circa Agharta and Pangaea). This disc covers a blizzard of moods & tones, but always has a perpetual organic rhythm underlying everything.. it grooves endlessly, but shifts and morphs so well it doesn't get boring or repetitive for one second. While Samuli and Pat keep the rhythm/sample pot boiling over, the others are busy stretching out with any random idea they can think of. Trey's Warr guitar work ranges from supple bass to sweet fuzzy guitar sounds, always dead-on perfect for what's needed at any given moment. Pat once described Kimmo as "the Jimi Hendrix of the accordion," and one listen to "Absinthe" will confirm that for anyone who doubts. He squeezes nuances out of the instrument almost in the manner of a human voice, making it cry and sing like Hendrix or Jeff Beck at their most scorching. One of the best things I can say about 8AM is that it works on a few eclectic levels. It's easy to listen to right away (the grooves are addictive in the extreme), but there are layers upon layers that'll keep creeping out for a long time. It covers a whole lot of ground (dark, peaceful, simple, frenetic, beautiful, chaotic) but never loses its own identity and that identity is truly in a league all its own. If you like Miles or King Crimson's more improvisational stuff, or just feel like something new & adventurous, then you want this album. You just might not realize it yet.

Highly recommended for every really progressive music fan with open mind.

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Steve Morse - Major Impacts 2 2004

Steve Morse - Major Impacts 2

Once Steve said he is not a guitar hero. He just plays on the guitar. But Steve can do anything. It really comes down to this. Other guitar greats are so awesome - yet stay within a specific range of compositional styles and technical ability. Steve not only can play any style, and with each style exhibiting perfection, but his compositional skills are stunning. Who can undertake his ability to play! Write original music in the style of that artist that influenced you, and retain your individual extraordinary ability within that style? On the first cut - promise yourself something - on a sunny day take a drive with a sense of freedom and play 'Wooden Music'. It will infuse your soul with sunlight and hope and prepare you for the incredible songs ahead on this album. Well he is only a guitar player.

A must have for every guitar player.

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Chick Corea Elektric Band - Beneath the Mask 1991

Chick Corea Elektric Band - Beneath the Mask

I think everybody knows Chick Corea, and this is one of the six Elektric Band studio releases, but this is still my favorite. Amazing playing, great songwriting and outstanding engineering make this an incredible fusion album. This release is more of a band effort with Patitucci and Weckl collaborating on six of the ten songs. There is quite an assortment of tunes... funky grooves on "Beneath the Mask" and "Jammin E. Cricket, the lush atmosphere of "A Wave Goodbye", Latin influence on "Free Step", all out shredding on "Charged Particles", and the syncopated rhythms and time changes of "Illusions". The order of songs is perfect as every song compliments the next and the entire album flows wonderfully.
This is a must-have for any fusion collection, a real masterpiece.

Highly recommended for every fusion fan.

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Björk - Medúlla 2004

Björk - Medúlla

Have you ever heard mouth music? It's a traditional technique for producing music with nothing except rhythmic vocals - literally, just music from the mouth. Icelandic Björk isn't a Celt, but she takes the term "mouth music to new heights in the enchantingly challenging "Medulla," an album whose music is based on the voice. Björk embarks on her strangest and most experimental musical journey here. Not just one kind of song, but many - majestic medieval-flavored music to pop to hymns to an eerie vocal ballad backed by throat singing. Björk even beat boxes with a choir behind her, giving a sort of classical hip-hop sound to the music. Can't get that just anywhere.
"Medulla" isn't entirely devoid of instrumentation... the non-vocal variety, that is. There's a pretty piano solo to "Ancestors," and the deep bass line of "Submarine." Keyboards pop up occasionally, but those are the exception - most of the time it's Björk's soft vocals, singing, grunting, whistles, and various sounds - sort of a dolphin-on-acid noise. It's wonderfully weird. After the masterpiece "Vespertine," Björk just bursts out with her new sound. What's strangest is the effect it has when one is listening to it - it's powerful and visceral, lulling you one moment and making you shiver the next. At times it's unnerving - the grunts range from sexy to ghastly, and are enough to make you squirm - but it never fails to provoke a response. "Medulla" isn't a full departure from her past material. The opening number has echoes of "Vespertine," while "Where is the Line" hints at "Homogenic." But the heart and soul of "Medulla" rests in an entirely new zone, far away from the icy grandeur of her past trip-hop. This is a darker, thicker sound, backed by Robert Wyatt's odd vocals and a choir.
Björk proves again that she is an artist in every sense of the word - she doesn't just make wonderful music, but she explores into new and thrilling musical arenas. Revolutionary, sultry, and a jolt to the system. Get this album, if want to hear something very special.

Highly recommended for every music fan, who wants to know something about where are the new ways of music.

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Andy Summers - Mysterious Barricades 1988

Andy Summers - Mysterious Barricades

I am not a very big The Police fan, but I prefer Sting and Andy too. I was actually expecting him to sound like a cross between jazz & pop. What I heard on this album is totally different to The Police, and totally amazing. Andy took many musical ideas explored with fellow guitarist Robert Fripp in songs like "In the Cloud Forest" and "Girl On a Swing" and expounded on them for this "New Age" album. This minimalist approach to "ambient" music is wonderful for it's evocative power. Each song paints amazing pictures in your mind with synthesizers (courtesy of David Hentschel) and Andy's unique guitar sounds. I listened to this album many times. I have this one on a bad audio cassette, but the new remastered version has the same magic. It sounds just as fantastic today, even many years after it's initial release. An another undiscovered masterpiece.

Highly recommended for every guitar fan.

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Laos - We Want It 1990

Laos - We Want It

I have got this album nearly 10 years before. From first track to last track, the energy never stops. Girl in a rock band - no, not a Nightwish type soprano, a real rock voice. Her powerful vocals make this a must have album for every AOR/ hard rock fan - she must be one of the truly hidden treasures of German melodic rock from the early 90's. Great musicians behind her - anyway some of them are from the trash band Living Death. And the Laos's drummer Jorg Michel went on to play for Stratovarious! Strange situation. Strongly recommend this one for all you fans of melodic rock - German bands like Laos and Jaded Heart just flat get the job done. I think I no need to write more. Get this masterpiece!

Highly recommended for every hard rock fan.

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Michael Schenker - Adventures of the Imagination 2000

Michael Schenker - Adventures of the Imagination

When I have heard this album for a first time, I did not like it. But after a short time I have find a secret treasure hidden into this album. Schenker's first totally instrumental album is something that will leave you confused and stunned. The whole album is a masterpiece of the electric guitar. Schenker knows how to translate his incredible virtuosity into strong and well crafted rock songs, very different from other guitarists who only fill the songs with solo after solo in the speed of light. The band here is also strong, just a three-piece, straight-forwarded old style formation - guitar, bass and drums. No weird noises or same things. Just Michael Schenker - guitar, John Onder- bass and Aysnley Dunbar - drums, delivering first-class instrumental music. This album is a must, a real winner. This is not a shredding album, it contains songs like Steve Morse does on his albums. Unfortunately I have never seen Michael live, but I hope it will change in the future. Get this masterpiece.

A must have for every guitar player.

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Stonehenge - Angelo Salutante 2001

Stonehenge - Angelo Salutante

Angelo Salutante is the first and only studio album of the Hungarian band Stonehenge. Two years after the release they fell apart and later, with other members, they recorded an EP. That EP, Nerine, doesn't consist the lead vocalist of Angelo Salutante, Zoltán BZ Bátky, and although I've never heard it, I'm sure about the fact that it isn't as good as AS.

The music is progressive metal, most in the vein of Dream Theater, but they have a lot of uniqe things. The members rule on their instruments, they play greatly.

There are more tracks, what if you start to listen to, you'll say: No, this will be a hard, non-progressive metal song, but in the end you'll recognize, that you were wrong. The longer songs (like Newcomer, Between Two Worlds, Rambling and Fly) are very complex, maybe even symphonic.

I hope that I could recommend you this album with my review, it will worth if you'll try it!

Highly recommended for every progressive fan.

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Mike Keneally - Hat 1992

Mike Keneally - Hat

This is Mike's first album called "Hat" miraculously leap into my hands as a gift from another Zappa fan several years ago. Keneally's goofball and quirky sensibility simply pours from this album. Being his first album, this one is a little rougher recorded and not as sophisticated as his later albums "Boil That Dust Speck", "Sluggo" and Dancing". However the "Hat" shows Keneally's raw first efforts at creating his own delightfully off kilter music and will stack up well against any solo albums by other Zappa alumni. Of the guitarists that preceded him in Frank Zappa's band together with Adrian Belew, Steve Vai. Keneally's writing is the most sophisticated, complex and exciting.

Along with the obvious influences from his time spent with Zappa, you can also hear powerful influences from many genres. At times it is in your face and difficult, and at other times, it has a sweet and innocent pop sensability. Not every artist can strike a balance between the two and have both seem effortless. A very great debut album of an unique musician.

Highly recommended for every Zappa fan.

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Mind Odyssey - Signs 1999

Mind Odyssey - Signs

When I have listened this album for a first time, it sounds like a bit of a Dream Theater rip, but it isn't really. More of a straight forward progressive metal approach is applied here and it also shifts into an almost hard rock sound on tracks such as "In the picture" and "Slaves of the desert", although of course accompanied by keyboards. The Dream Theater sound I mentioned earlier certainly present in some of the keyboard lines, although it doesn't feature as many complex instrumental sections that seem to put some people off. There are also no instrumental only tracks. The only ballad, the title track, is probably the low point of the album, but still isn't a bad song.

In summing up, this is your typical progressive metal album, but done better than most. Most of the tracks are of a reasonably high standard. And the guitarist on this album was Victor Smolski, who is recently Rage member. I think his name is a sign of quality. If you like some good European progressive metal, this album was made for you.

Highly recommended for every progressive metal fan.

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Liquid Tension Experiment - Live in L.A & Live in N.Y.C. 2009

Liquid Tension Experiment - Live in L.A & Live in N.Y.C.

This is an extra present for every L.T.E. fan. This ones was releasing in a massive CD/DVD box set of live material from their 2008 reunion tour.

The L.T.E. Box Set is the ultimate souvenir of Liquid Tension Experiment's 10th Anniversary Reunion Tour.
Included in this deluxe package is both the NYC and LA shows in their entirety (on both CD and DVD), as well as the Liquid Trio Experiment 2 CD and two items that are exclusive to this set and will not be available separately.  The bonus album was posted in the past, and the I promised this two concert for every fan.

I think I no need to write more, a must have for every progressive rock fan. Get them all.

Highly recommended for every instrumental music fan.

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Live in L.A.

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Live in N.Y.C.

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Buckethead - Electric Tears 2002

Buckethead - Electric Tears

The man, the bucket, the mask and the myth. I was first introduced to Buckethead with the classic album "Monsters and Robots", which showcases his infamous and bizarrely schizophrenic style of instrumental guitar wizardry. "Electric Tears", however, shows a meditative, melodic and serene side of the man that was not only unexpected, but extremely enjoyable.
Like floating through a delirious state of near-sleep, this album will send your mind on a surreal inner journey. No percussion, no other instruments of any sort; just layer upon layer of acoustic and electric guitar that will overwhelm you in a wash of melody and texture. Neo-futuristic new age music unlike anything else I've heard. One thing that surprises me about buckethead is his versatility, you can listen to his albums and never get the exact same idea, or sound. The Sketches of Spain song, is an arrangement of "Concierto de Aranjuez" a classical piece, so he didnt compose it.

Experience the haunting, beautiful and ethereal side of Buckethead, the fried chicken bucket and white mask-wearing guitar magician who has been described by the likes of Bootsy Collins, Bill Laswell and Carlos Santana as a phenomenal guitar player. Here, Buckethead puts aside his usual ax shredding and calculated mayhem to take the listener on an atmospheric acoustic/electric voyage into his mind. This album with "Colma" belongs to his best, if you like this one I will post the "Colma" next time.

Highly recommended for every guitar fan.

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Michael Lee Firkins - Michael Lee Firkins 1990

Michael Lee Firkins - Michael Lee Firkins

A man who played nearly all guitar parts on Jason Becker's Perspective, and a guitarist who have mixed bluegrass with rock/metal. There are so many superb guitarists out there who have cut shred like a wild fire  and that genre can easily become a bit of a caricature of itself, and doubtless many fans will come here looking for the same. This album is not about that. This is a unique masterpiece.
This is the album that rises way above that genre. 19 years after its release it stills sounds fresh and vibrant because Firkins made a mini-epic of each track. Not only is each tune a roller coaster ride, but the solo has also been painstakingly put together so that there is each and every time a fiery climax guaranteed to give goosebumps. He is more than an another soulless shredder. An essential six-string listening, and a simple must have for every guitar player.

 Highly recommended for every guitar fan.

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