ATAVACHRON

The main focus of this album (just look at the albumcover) is the synthaxe. The Synthaxe is an extemely ingenious instrument and apart from Holdsworth, all I know is that Ian Crichton of Saga played it.

For me it is really simple: if all Holdsworth records would sound the same, why record multiple records? I love the fact that an artist tries something new and explores areas that are unexplored.

If you want electric guitar muscle music buy Steve Vai or Stevie Ray Vaughan, if you want something completely different and are curious to what a Synthaxe sounds like, buy some 80's Holdsworth.

That being said: the compositions are really nice, soft 80's fusion with excellent drumming by some of the best drummers around (Husband, Williams and Wackerman). Also some great keyboard-work by Childs and Pasqua. So there's nothing wrong on the musician-side. A nice extra is the singing of Rowenna Mark on All Our Yesterdays.

The production is digital but works excellent for this kind of music. If this kind of music had a grittier production, it would end up sounding too chaotic. This album marks the first of a string of (succesful) Synthaxe-albums by Holdsworth. I am a great enthousiast of both Holdsworth as the Synthaxe, so this is a great album for me. If you don't like, don't bother.

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