AGAINST THE CLOCK: THE BEST OF ALLAN HOLDSWORTH

This collection is hard to rate, 3.5 stars would be about right. It's close to the essential music of Allan Holdsworth, but comes a bit shy of being a jem.

The two disc collection is comprised of one disc of guitar based tunes and a second consisting of Allan's synthaxe compositions. These tunes were chosen by the master as the songs which he felt represented the Best Of his solo works. Missing are tracks from Road Games and IOU. The reason is that Road Games was recently remastered and re- released, thus a worthy purchase on it's own, and the impending make-over of IOU with additional tracks that had gone missing for numerous years until Allan reclaimed ownership of the master tapes. Velvet Darkness also goes unrepresented, but Allan holds that release as an unauthorized recording of a rehearsals and unworthy of being considered as an Allan Holdsworth album.

Disc #1: Guitar. This is a very excellent collection for any fan of electric guitar. The opener, "Tokyo Dream," is a remake (from Road Games) that appeared on the Japanese import of Wardenclyffe Tower. This is my favorite AH song of all time. This version is superior to the original. Another noticable omission are the vocal tracks featuring Paul Williams (Tempest, Juicy Lucy). This may be due to PW's cashing in on Allan's name when he released a bootleg live album a few years back. Standouts include Peril Premonition and Home, examples of Allan's love of adding quirky sound montages into the intro. Devil Take the Hindmost is the tune cited by guitar shedders as the most influential Holdsworth solo. Blistering! This disc will receive a lot of spin time in my players.

Disc #2: Synthaxe. Unfortunately, some of the master tapes of Allan's first synthaxe album, Atavachron, were damaged and prevent the entire recording from being remastered. A few of the recordings did survive. One, All Our Yesterdays, is included, however, this is the one track on Atavachron that I normally skip over. It's not a strong track. It features vocals by Rowanne Mark and a bizarre improv between AH and Chad Wackerman. I'm surprised to find it here, it's not an essential tune. Eeny Meeny and Bo Peep, tracks from Flat Tire, just don't get it for me. Maybe if they were interspersed between non synthaxe tracks, I wouldn't be so tempted to hit the skip button. I have to say the same thing about the AH/Gordon Beck contribution, Sundays. It's another tune that doesn't have any snap. Distance vs. Desire is THE solo synthaxe track that reaches the climax of that instruments ability. A beautiful song.

Bonus Tracks: Let's Throw Shrimp, a lively trio excursion that bubbles and bops along. The bands sounds like they are having fun and I hope this is a solid precursor to the next disc. Shenandoah, a old American classic, is covered with spectacular grandeur and emotion. This may be the most powerful statement from Allan since Secrets. Shenandoah alone is worth the price of the disc. Simply sublime.

If I were to suggest anything for the beginning Holdsworth explorer, this disc would rank third or fourth. Get Secrets, Sixteen Men of Tain or Metal Fatigue. Build from there. If you want a compact, wide ranging collection? Get this one. Remember, Allan Holdsworth is an acquired taste. Not for the casual listener.

I think that this brilliant compilation is really something essential of what any fan of guitar should have with the truest master of fusion guitar,the one and only Mr ALLAN HOLDSWORTH! It worth every cent and this double album will plenty satisfy not only Holdsworth fans,but especially the ones who want to try to make a serious musical discovery with this album! DISC1 is electric guitar with the unique sound that we know and DISC 2 is a synthaxe cd where we are delighted with the beautiful sound that only master Holdsworth can have it! Let's say that on disc 1 we have extracts from all the albums of Holdsworth from his electric period and we realise that time is making miracles with Holdsworth's music because it didn't has any trace of rust,au contraire it's so actual and defnitelly timeless!This monster guitarist is one of the most sincere and fdevoted he didn't make any compromise toward his fans,offering each time the best of the best!Holdsworth is out of time,tendencies,trends and has fallowed his only artistical credo to give the public the measure of his geniality!I think also that Holdsworth is stranger to any imitation or influences -he is in fact a guitar icon that has influenced thousands of guitareros,but none of them were able to reach to his trone and the title of the best fusion improivisional guitarist ever!On DISC 2 we can hear extracts from his synthaxe albums,where the superbe and unimitable sound of his instrument is even more beautiful!Great improvisional legetos and a fluent and accessible guitaristic style,impossible to be confused!It's really superbe music and this second disc contains selections from his major releases too!This album is a pearl in any colectioneer of progressive music and essential for the guitarist sector!For those who don't want any HOLDSWORTH solo album ,this compilation is perfect too,to discover his activity trough albums and different periods of activity!! In conclusion a very ,very complete and complexe selection of more than 2 hours of pure magic guitaristic wizzardty of the one and only ALLAN HOLDSWORTH,the fusion progressive guitar master! 5 STARS and sinceres compliments!

Honestly, this is a great sampling of Allan's muse-driven soul over the decades, his compositional music the channel, his technical finesse the clarity without compare. It is hard to not say this "Best of" release is great because as a long-time fan of Allan, after hearing him stretch on U.K.'s first release and then his slaying me with his Bruford work -- well, every solo outing was just another fusion guitar oasis in the desert of corporate pop rock ennui. This collection offers that long-awaited Japanese version of "Tokyo Dreams" and then two more unreleased tunes -- and Allan's treatment of "Shenandoah" is exquisite, deep soul travel material there -- wow! This will be a great way for many to re-discover a well-kept secret -- the enigma, Allan Holdsworth.