METAL FATIGUE

Have you ever heard Allan Holdsworth before? He is definitely one of very best guitar player even though he is not in the Top 100 guitarists as per Guitar World magazine version. He first came to our attention on an album by violinist Jean Luc Ponty. As you might be aware that Ponty takes most of the spotlight on his albums, Holdsworth was given his guitar solo room worth listening for. For sure he has a very unique guitar-playing style. He has been everywhere; starting his career at young age, from Tempest to Tony Williams' Lifetime, Gong, Jean-Luc Ponty, Gordon Beck, Jack Bruce, Bill Bruford, UK and Soft Machine. I was not quite sure when I heard his guitar playing at first time - it's probably when he joined Bill Bruford with "One of A Kind" album. After that, I chased whatever album he contributed as I really like his guitar playing style. In the mid- 1970s, he began showing some solo albums with "Velvet Darkness", "I.O.U" and "Road Games".

On "Metal fatigue" album, Holdsworth still seems content to hide behind the band and not venture too play dominantly at front. Exception is on "Devil Take the Hindmost." Where he really demonstrates his virtuosity and takes overall control, playing chord by chord painstakingly fast. Elsewhere in the album, Holdsworth typically does not want to appear so obvious including on a track dedicated to his father through "The Un-Merry-Round". The keyboardist Alan Pasqua takes care most of the leads and most of the solos. Through this album Holdsworth proves that the composition is really great and the music is mostly jazz- rock fusion in style.

In conclusion, this album is a must for those who love guitar virtuoso, jazz rock fusion fans, or for those who are interested in observing how far the limits of guitar playing can be stretched. I've never heard another guitarists like Holdsworth. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW