Allan Holdsworth — Hard Hat Area (European Ed.) (1994)

Allan Holdsworth is arguably
one of the most important post-Hendrix electric guitarists to grace
either the fusion or rock scenes, while Hard Hat Area, signifies
one of the artist’s better solo excursions. With this 1994 effort,
the guitarist receives excellent support from Icelandic electric
bass phenom Skuli Sverrissson, whereas keyboardist Steve Hunt
renders melodically tinged synth lines and ethereal backwashes
throughout.

Allan Holdsworth is arguably
one of the most important post-Hendrix electric guitarists to grace
either the fusion or rock scenes, while Hard Hat Area, signifies
one of the artist’s better solo excursions. With this 1994 effort,
the guitarist receives excellent support from Icelandic electric
bass phenom Skuli Sverrissson, whereas keyboardist Steve Hunt
renders melodically tinged synth lines and ethereal backwashes
throughout. Essentially, the group produces a series of climactic
overtures, accelerated by a distinct sense of uninhibited force. On
pieces such as «Ruhkukah» and «Low Levels, High Stakes,» the
musicians surge forward with a deterministic flair via a few tricky
time signatures and lyrically charged themes atop Holdsworth’s
climactically driven solos. Consequently, the group conveys an
underlying sense of tension and release, as Holdsworth’s scathing
legato-based lines might spur notions of a hawk zooming in on its
prey. Thus, a must-have for the ardent Holdsworth aficionado. ~ by
Glenn Astarita (AMG)