THE STORY OF LIGHT

I must admit, after seeing Steve Vai playing in Frank Zappa's band thirty years ago or so, I bacame a huge fan. When I heard "The Attitude Song" when it was releases as a flexi-single in Guitar Player magazine I had to get the "Flex-Able" album, and it's companion leftovers album. But after the next two albums "Passion & Warfare" and "Sex & Religion" showed the great Vai retreating into hard rock and metal cliches, I gave up on him.

Then, a few years ago I saw the video of his "Where The Wild Things Are" concert on TV, and saw that Vai had returned to his inventive roots, and was playing like only he could, that is as the most outstanding guitarist on the planet. Coupled with a mind blowing solo he added to "Zomby Woof" on the first ZPZ album, it gave me a reason to re-investigate Mr. Vai.

And this album does not disappoint. Opening with The Story Of Light, Vai returns to his Zappa beginnings. The song has a feel like the warm up numbers Frank would use to open his concerts (and had spoken Russian lyrics read by Julia Rainy May Vai - must be a relative). The song builds while Vai does his guitar acrobatics. Another Zappa-influenced track is Creamsicle Sunset, which sound like it was influence by Zoot Allures.

Highlights include John The Revelator and Book Of The Seven Seals, a pair of songs that begin as old time blues, and work their way into a prog-metal/blues/gospel frenzy. I can't describe it and better than that. You have to hear it.

Another astounding piece is Gravity Storm where Vai bends his rhythm and lead guitar lines in impossible ways, yet his band manages to stay right with him. And Mullach a' tSi, a duet with harpist Deborah Henson-Conant is delicate and beautiful.

This album is supposedly the second in a trilogy with his previous studio album (which I don't yet own). It doesn't matter, it stands completely on it's own. And it is brilliant from start to finish.

4.5 stars. Very close to perfect.