You can trust Louder
Steve Howe says purchasing a new synthesiser enabled him to compose from a different perspective than his usual approach via the fretboard. While that may have whetted his compositional appetite, 14 instrumental tunes on Guitarscape bear the unmistakable imprint of his guitar.
The synth settings that capture Howe’s interest sound curiously retro in their feel and application, oddly reminiscent of the velvety orchestral textures and moodscapes favoured by almost-Yes man Vangelis.
Variously showcasing Howe’s distinctive acoustic or electric guitar and accompanied by the crisp rhythmic work of his son Dylan, these are tunes that are mostly short and to the point. Though several boast intricate melodies, their lack of development and overall brevity renders Guitarscape more akin to that of a taster showreel rather than something substantial.
It’s possible to imagine individual tunes being deployed as TV themes for sports shows, upbeat holiday travelogues, or incidental moments with a drama production. This isn’t meant to damn Howe with faint praise – after all this time, he has more than earned the right to follow wherever a particular muse might lead.
Guitarscape is on sale now via Howesound.
Sid's feature articles and reviews have appeared in numerous publications including Prog, Classic Rock, Record Collector, Q, Mojo and Uncut. A full-time freelance writer with hundreds of sleevenotes and essays for both indie and major record labels to his credit, his book, In The Court Of King Crimson, an acclaimed biography of King Crimson, was substantially revised and expanded in 2019 to coincide with the band’s 50th Anniversary. Alongside appearances on radio and TV, he has lectured on jazz and progressive music in the UK and Europe.
A resident of Whitley Bay in north-east England, he spends far too much time posting photographs of LPs he's listening to on Twitter and Facebook.