TIME

Steve Howe's "Time" is an album I have been playing while surfing the net, writing or simply relaxing. It is that sort of album. The non abrasiveness of the music and the sheer beauty is exquisite. Howe is a master of the guitar and he really demonstrates an enormous amount of dexterity and this is the quieter side of the guitar genius. This is easy listening music to kick off the shoes, put the feet up and curl up into a warm book. Or this is romantic enough to put on during an evening dinner with some wine and caviar. If that is the sort of thing you are likely to do Howe has provided the perfect background music. I do not mean that either in a derogatory sense, as the music is lovely and played virtuoso, but this is definitely for me background music.

The point is nothing really stands out as a killer track rather it is just an album with terrific classical musicianship that blends well as a whole. It has a Cantata, a Concerto, and even the odd Aria with 'Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5'. There is the sound of a banjo on one track and mostly finger picking guitar sounding exactly like Howe's acoustic guitar solos in a Yes concert. The music is backed by symphonic keyboards but drums are absent, bass is absent and you will find zero distortion as far as the guitars. They are always crystal clean and pleasant. It is a nice album that my wife likes me playing but Yes were more inventive and daring than this and so was Howe who has mellowed in his old age with this effort.