Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site tellab1.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!tellab1!etan From: etan@tellab1.UUCP (Nate Stelton) Newsgroups: net.music Subject: mini reviews Message-ID: <491@tellab1.UUCP> Date: Tue, 4-Jun-85 14:01:31 EDT Article-I.D.: tellab1.491 Posted: Tue Jun 4 14:01:31 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 6-Jun-85 02:24:15 EDT Reply-To: etan@tellab3.UUCP (Nate Stelton) Organization: Tellabs, Inc., Lisle, IL Lines: 54 Mini Reviews Special emphasis on guitarists ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force It's not really heavy metal, but some of the vocal pieces made me think of old Uriah Heep. Yngwie writes, arranges, and produces this album, along with playing some truly dazzling electric leads. This 22-year-old sounds like Al DiMeola on speed playing heavy-handed classical-rock. I've never heard anyone arpeggiate augmented chords so far and so fast. Definitely refreshing. This album is predominantly instrumental, but Rising Force has a new one due for release soon, which will contain all vocal material. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Magic Touch -- Stanley Jordan What can I say that hasn't already been said? Jordan not only has taken two-handed technique probably farther than anyone else, but he has the knowledge and emotion to go with his technique. From Hendrix to Monk to his original compositions, Jordan handles leads, chords, dueling voices, and some bass parts simultaneously without overdubbing. All he needs is a little polishing. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cielo e Terra -- Al DiMeola Just two guys on this album, Al and Airto. The album shows a change in direction for DiMeola by concentrating on soft, spacious imagery. No hot metal leads; I guess he's leaving the flash up to Yngwie. There are some imaginative uses of synclavier-guitar that really fill out the sound. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Metal Fatigue -- Allan Holdsworth All right all you Holdsworth fans -- come and get it! This fourth solo offering by Holdsworth features excellent charts (by Allan) with rich harmonic depth and structure that provide ripe vehicles for his unrivaled soloing abilities. It also features a new bass player, Jimmy Johnson (more on him later). Trivia question: A vocalist named Paul Korda sings on one cut, and he sounds like the guy from Marillion. Is he? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Everybody's Painting Pictures -- Wayne Johnson Trio If you like the Pat Metheny Group, but think that they get a bit drawn out sometimes, then you'll like Wayne Johnson. This is his third album, and, like the other two, it provides an exciting array of dynamic variations, feels, and time changes. His guitar sound and playing is strikingly similar to Metheny's, but he branches off in some different directions. Johnson has developed a sort of cult following among my peers. Oh, by the way, his bass player is Jimmy Johnson (who I think is his brother), and watch out! Given proper promotion and exposure, he could become the next bass hero a'la Pastorious, Berlin or Clarke. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -etan