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Allan Holdsworth : Against The Clock

© 2005 Alternity Records

The two-disc set is divided into two logical segments. Disc one emphasizes Holdsworth’s trademark legato guitar work and mind-boggling close chordal harmonies. 75 minutes of material culled from ‘85’s Metal Fatigue through ‘00’s The Sixteen Men of Tain showcase Holdsworth’s playing style, which ranges from blinding speed to idiosyncratic yet wholly memorable lyricism. Fusion fans often refer to such displays of technique as “shredding", but the term is a poor fit for Holdsworth. While it implies a virtuosity that he clearly possesses, it tends to gloss over the clear sense of construction that Holdsworth displays in even the most breakneck of solos.

Disc two features Holdsworth’s work on the Synthaxe, an awkward-looking guitar synthesizer that, given his recognition of John Coltrane as a seminal influence, has afforded him the ability to execute phrases with a horn-like diction, something that he could previously only emulate on guitar. It has also allowed him to expand his sonic palette, with some pieces on the second disc approaching the orchestral in nature.

List Price: $29.99