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Topic: Allan Holdsworth?

anything
VoivodFan
Member # 209

posted October 25, 2003 19:17

I was in a used CD store browsing and picked out Allan Holdsworth's "All Night Wrong" CD. I think I read about Allan Holdsworth on this forum--does that sound familiar?--so I thought I'd give it a listen. Anyways, this is an awesome CD! I'd say it's somewhere between some Nohtingface/blacky-era Voivod experimentation, John McLaughlin/Mahavishnu Orchestra, Magma, King Crimson, and Durrutti Column--it's nice and experimental with cool solos, but also a bit of a fun/funny "smooth jazz" or "new agey" feel in the abastractness of some of the chords. Usually that might sound horrible but not here--I think it's just that a lot of the time his guitar when not playing solos is clean or put through chorus or something to make it sound "gentle" though he's playing these great warped abstract chords. I actually like this alot better than the last few King Crimson cds for my tastes. I really hope Voivod brings back some experimentation like this on their next CD--some real abstract warped jazzy guitar chords, choppy prog rock rhythms and drums, wild solos, real active meandering bass. Heavy is good, but heavy plus experimental and avante-jazzy like Nothingface is even better!

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schroeder
VoivodFan
Member # 5

posted October 26, 2003 05:35

SIMON6 is the Holdworth groupie on this forum. He's a fuckin genius with an axe!!!

If you're into Crimson's Wetton era and enjoy Holdsworth also, and you haven't heard the first UK album "UK" then you are missing out. Wetton (bass and vocals) Holdsworth (guitar) Bruford (drums) Eddie Jobson (violin and keyboards).

I also have "Metal Fatique" by Holdworth which is a damn fine album.

You've opened up a new can of worms by getting into Holdsworth...there's a lot out there to listen to.

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Mezcalhead
VoivodFan
Member # 26

posted October 26, 2003 09:21

Hahah, yeah, Simon sent me a bunch of Holdsworth albums way back when. He is hands down the best I believe there ever was on the instrument.

Schroeder, you're one of my favorite people on this forum and normally I hold what you say in high regard. But to recommend that UK album to somebody else is something I will not let pass. I had to laugh when I saw this because I made the mistake of listening to Kula who ALSO RECOMMENDED this album to me. Which I of course promptly went out and bought. Wow, what a tremendous piece of pretentious new age crap that thing was. Still blows me away today when I think about it.

Simon really needs to comment on this thread as he is the true authority on this subject.

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schroeder
VoivodFan
Member # 5

posted October 26, 2003 21:05

I think if I heard UK for the first time today it wouldn't impress me at all, but I got into it when I first started listening to progressive rock when I was young...along with YES, UK has always had a close place to my heart with music. I can see why you would think otherwise MEZ.

It is sort of like a precursor to ASIA although not as sappy.

Either way I still enjoy them.

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Tangento
VoivodFan
Member # 117

posted October 27, 2003 05:28

Most jazz (and thus, most AH I've heard) bores the living piss out of me. That said, Holdsworth is one of the premier guitarists in the nether-regions between jazz and Progressive rock music. I have not heard the album 'All Night Wrong', but you do make it sound pretty interesting. Regardless of my opinion, Holdsworth is definitely held in the highest regard by his peers. If anyone can suggest some AH music which avoids the highbrow, bloated improv trappings of free-style jazz and the like, please suggest it. BTW, other than the somewhat loungy title track, Metal Fatigue is not my cup of tea.

As for UK, I think they were pretty damn cool in their time as Schroeder stated, but some of their material has not aged all that well - and thus may be difficult to relate to for a potential prog latecomer. I still dig 'Presto Vivace & Reprise/ In the Dead of Night'. That shit jams like a bastard.
Eddie Jobson can do no wrong in my eyes, as long as he avoids that damn pretentious 'Pseudo-World Music' crap.

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schroeder
VoivodFan
Member # 5

posted October 27, 2003 08:37

TANG wrote "Eddie Jobson can do no wrong in my eyes, as long as he avoids that damn pretentious 'Pseudo-World Music' crap."

AMEN BROTHER!!!
The guys great but I wish he's release something new. I wasn't interested in the chanting women of mango mango cd or whatever and whoever he recorded last year, but would love to hear him release another ZINC album, or part 2 of THEME OF SECRETS.

I also agree with what you said about Holdswoth, and I guess that's why I can at least listen to the few albums he has that have some vocals... it breaks the momotony of the total instrumental where he's just playing...which is phenomenal but tends to bore me after 15 minutes.

If I want an instrumental guitar album, I tend to grab Satriani (any of his) or Vai's 'Alien Love Secrets which is the perfect length for an instrumental cd from him, and it blows my mind with every listen.

I'm no guitar player (I do own one though) but I can tell that Holdsworth is incredible... just usually not my style.

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Maldororz
VoivodFan
Member # 186

posted October 27, 2003 08:51

Holdsworth is fantastic, he has octopus fingers that allow him to do incredible stuff. I haven't heard much of him except the first UK, which is very good.

By the way, Tang, for not-so-boring jazz music, try Coltrane's "Giant Step". That was the first jazz album that really blew my mind. Or in a more experimental, pre-fusion thing: Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew". That is some scary shit.

One of my favorite jazz weirdo, from Montréal: Jean Derome

And a very cool guitar player:
René Lussier

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MeanMrMustard
VoivodFan
Member # 57

posted October 27, 2003 13:00

I'm guilty. I like the UK stuff too. I even like the one with Bozzio on drums. As for the first UK release, I once read Fripp comment (paraphrasing) "if anyone wants to know what my contributions to King Crimson were from the 70's, just listen to the first UK album. I am not on it. What it's missing is what I bring to King Crimson"
or something to that affect.

As for Holdsworth, as fascinating as this guy is on tape, he is at least twice that in person. I saw Holdsworth play about 10 years ago in a small club. He is one of the most impressive guitar players that I have ever seen (and I've seen quite a few). There is a reason that this guy plays the most unique chords on earth. He has about a 9 fret "wingspread". I'm not even exaggerating. This guys hands were so spread out over the fret board! I have never heard or seen such beautiful chords. His pointer finger would litteraly be on the 3rd fret while his pinky was somewhere near the 12th fret. You'd swear that his hands were rubber. Then he would use his picking hand's pointer finger to hold a note down somewhere on the fretboard and continue to strum the chord with his thumb like a harp. I'm positive that I'm not explaining this well. And perhaps it is only interesting to other guitar players, but this man was just impressive.

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schroeder
VoivodFan
Member # 5

posted October 27, 2003 13:13

I'm no guitar player but that was a great discription.

I also liked the Fripp comment which certainly makes a lot of sense. It would have been interesting to hear how the first UK album would have been different with Fripp instead of Holdsworth. Maybe more like RED part 2, which would have had more edge to it than what was released with Holdsworth. I'm not saying it would have been better with Fripp, just different.

I also enjoyed Danger Money with Bozzio at the drums and no guitar player. There was a limited release of a live UK cd that featured Holdsworth and a few tunes that ended up on Danger Money. Jobson had it pulled from the shelves but not before a few hundred found their way to some lucky consumers, including myself.

When Death & Taxes cd getting released? I've been blasting the demo tracks you posted online, and looking forward to the final version and other songs. Your sound has really matured and I think the band sounds very solid.
Keep us informed.

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MeanMrMustard
VoivodFan
Member # 57

posted October 27, 2003 13:52

Thanks, Schroeder! The CD is almost done. I have the final mix in hand. Just need to master it and have it packaged. It will probably be the first week of December when I have it available.
I'm bummed out because it was supposed to be done in the middle of November, but due to a couple of delays, the completion date was pushed back. I was scheduled to open up for Living Colour on November 23rd, but I had to cancel since the CDs wouldn't be done!!! Arrggghhh! I still could have taken the gig, but it wasn't worth it without the new CD to support. Sucks!

As for the new CD, there's not much more on it than what I posted for download. The only other stuff on the CD will be a couple of personal pieces of Tom's playing, and an improv that took place at one of our final rehearsals that was recorded on one room mic.

Oh yeah, and one of the tracks that I posted was posted before the vocal tracks were recorded. You'll hear the vocals on the album. It happens to be one of my favorites. Remember that band Numira that I sent you a demo of? Well, the singer for that band will be singing on one of the new tracks. It sounds killer.

And by the way, I have the Live UK CD too!
As always, thanks for the support Schroed. Thanks to all of the Voivod fans that have been supportive. It really makes a difference.

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schroeder
VoivodFan
Member # 5

posted October 27, 2003 15:45

UK - CONCERT CLASSICS VOL 4
1999 CONCERT CLASSICS RRCC00704

The official live album was titled NIGHT AFTER NIGHT, which is also a goody IMHO.

It's nice to see other UK fans still appreciating the old stuff.

Here's a link to METRO RECORDS UK PAGE which has the 3 official releases (UK - DANGER MONEY - NIGHT AFTER NIGHT) at damn good prices. Maybe Ebay for the rare one.

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Mezcalhead
VoivodFan
Member # 26

posted October 27, 2003 21:09

Can we possibly be talking about the same album???? I got to check on this.

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Tangento
VoivodFan
Member # 117

posted October 27, 2003 22:17

I finally added the D&T'$ MP3 link as requested, Mustard-dude.
Can't wait to hear the new stuff.

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schroeder
VoivodFan
Member # 5

posted October 28, 2003 08:05

quote:
Originally posted by Mezcalhead:
Can we possibly be talking about the same album???? I got to check on this.

I'm sure we are MEZ, it's just not your thing.

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