Aside
from some electric guitar on the lead track and Dave Carpenter
playing bass on a couple of cuts, Allan Holdsworth's final studio
album produced and released in his lifetime is primarily a
synthaxe-only affair, making this his purest and most personal
expression of his artistic vision.
The
music, recorded at a difficult time for Holdsworth, is contemplative
and cinematic, living up to the title and also making it curious that
Holdsworth never composed actual motion picture and television
soundtracks. Holdsworth would have been a perfect match for
Hollywood.
It's
also unfortunate for dedicated and loyal fans that Holdsworth didn't
make any more solo records for the remaining 16 years of his life.
However, he did stay active with live performances at events and
festivals and guest appearances and collaborations on other
musicians' albums.
Many
unappreciative guitar aficionados, including several of Holdsworth's
own ardent followers, found Holdsworth's synthaxe musings
inaccessible and mystifying. But if you really pay close attention,
you will discern not only Holdsworth's brilliance as a composer but
also his unparalleled skill and unique talent as a guitarist, even
and especially in the context of the synthaxe. And therein lies the
reward.
--Raj
Manoharan
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