TRAVIS LARSON BAND: Travis Larson Band CD
First album from a new name to me but definitely a name to watch as this is one seriously hot instrumental rock guitar trio. Fourteen tracks allow the musicians all the room they need to show you that they can definitely whip up a storm while still retaining that vital sense of melody to make the songs flow so well. That, allied to a fantastic set of arrangements where dynamics plays a crucial role, means that this is music that positively glows. The average track length is around four minutes and this is absolutely perfect, distilling the electric guitar-driven essence that is this red-hot trio into one fantastic composition after another, ensuring no self-indulgence, and plenty of expressive playing.
Many of the tracks fly along on a wave of riffs and rhythms but rarely would you label it as "metal" although it decidedly rocks. Then you get a track like 'Nameless' that takes a more languid path yet remains strong but builds into a swirling storm of a track nevertheless, the guitar work so full of feeling while the rhythm section seem to hold it all together effortlessly. Special mention must be made of the production which is crisp, clear, sharp and crystal clear. But, above all, it si the lead guitar work that shines and it's all about feeling, which every track on this album has by the bucketload, as it largely drives a rock guitar path through some strong tunes and superior playing all round - a magnificent debut for sure
TRAVIS LARSON BAND: Suspension CD
The second album and a more varied rock guitar instrumental album with the guitar to the fore but more emphasis placed on a pace and building the tracks up to a height only to take it all down and start again. Also more emphasis is placed on the whole melodic feel and fullness of the tracks. As a result, you have an album featuring strong but mid-paced electric guitar work where time travels more slowly but the solid feel still exists. Occasionally even bluesy, this is still an album that rocks , but this time with melodies that are slightly more intricate and complex, yet losing none of the flowing elements that made so much of th first album such a cohesive success.- a strong set of tunes with excellent production qualities, so much so that even I noticed the bass and drums work along the way. This is more sensibly paced instrumental rock that mixes rock and fusion well, with some spiralling guitar soloing throughout. Solid, inventive, accessible, excellent playing and writing, this is mid-paced dynamic instrumental guitar-rock at its finest.
TRAVIS LARSON BAND: Burn Season CD
Third album, all instrumental bar one song right at the end, a trio consisting of Larson on all guitars and keyboards, Jennifer Young on electric bass and Dale Moon on drums, with guest appearance from Steve Lukather on one track. Now I listen to instrumental guitar-rock and fusion albums from thepoint of view of the emotional impact that the compositions have - all this bit about how technical the playing is, whether the guy can do this that or the other - all that is not only completely over my head but totally irrelevant - all these musos wittering on about such things should just listen to the music for what it is, not how adeptly it's played. If they do, then they will find their own slice of heaven in this album, for it features track after track of music that is so superbly composed and arranged as to strike a chord on every level.
Take something like the seven minute title track - a gorgeous slice of emotive music, taken at a mid-pace and delivered with finesse, strength and feel, as the rhythm section provide an undulating backdrop of rolling bass and drums, over which the lead guitar solos and soars, reminding me of some of the more ballad-like classic tracks that a guitarists such as Jeff Beck used to do, and here, the effect is so addictive, having you enraptured from start to finish, the searing, slow electric slide and lead guitars playing a melodic series of solos that are both heartfelt and make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck - wondrous stuff.
The four minute 'Edges' features a deeply riffing electric rhythm guitar as the rhythm section increase the pace slightly and over all that this lead guitar chimes away effortlessly until the pace drops, string synths are added, the bass, delicately pounds and drums splash, while this subtle and beautifully entwining lead guitar solo is heard as the track begins to take off once again. The four minute 'No Fate' rolls solidly along, this time a much more searing lead solo soars away on top, twisting and turning, changing shape and sound as the pace and structure of the track remains solid and yet languid at the same time, the pace allowing the maximum melodic impact of the playing to shine through, and the bass work here is upfront and mesmerising.
The five minute 'Heads Or Tales' has an almost country-blues feel to its use of gorgeously chiming twin guitars as the structure of the composition twiasts and turns as it goes, always tuneful, and almost reminding me of some of the most heartfelt instrumentals from classic Stanley Clarke, only with more melody but just as strong. 'Axe To Grind' features nearly five minutes of rock as the band fire up, again, not without its fair share of dynamic arranging that breaks the power display, and while it's a feast of mid-paced strength from the band as a whole, the guitar work shines and melodies are firmly set at the heart of things, again some wicked Stanley Clarke-esque bass coming to the fore.
The four minutes of the Curtis Mayfield classic ballad, 'People Get Ready' inevitably brings to mind the Jeff Beck hit with uncle Rod on vocals, but this instrumental rendition is just gorgeous with some heartfelt guitar work that really cuts through while the band provide a strong and relaxed rhythmic backing as the piece sails into a magical sunset. A couple of tracks follow that are melodic excursions for electric and acoustic guitars over the rhythm section's fine work while the penultimate track is a faster paced exercise in melodic fusion, with some electrifying electric leads, galloping drums and way funky electric bass.
With a few more tracks in a similar vein to all this that I've missed out along the way, and the four minute song at the end, the latter a rolling ballad with an distinct ethnic feel in the rhythm section, some gloriously multi-tracked electric and acoustic guitars, plus lead and harmony vocals, the result is an incredibly satisfying album that isn't bombastic or over-the-top, choc full of melody and expressive guitar work, superbly arranged, produced and composed and just a thoroughly brilliant work.
