Joe Satriani "Engines Of Creation"

"Engines Of Creation" can be said to mark a startling new phase of creativity for Joe Satriani, one of the most celebrated and accomplished guitar players of the last decade. The record is diversely cutting-edge, riddled with musical riddles and satisfying answers, laced with stunning sonic handiwork and astounding melodic assaults. At first listen, you may not realize this was a record made by a guitar player--but once you've heard the guitar, you'll most certainly know who's playing it. The burning "Devil's Slide" is a classic Satriani structure underpinned by forward-thinking grooves and sinister harmonies, while cuts like "Borg Sex" and "Slow and Easy" radically morph any idea about what guitar melodies should sound like. With the exception of portions of the single "Until We Say Good-bye," which features bass work by noted guitarist Pat Thrall and the drumming of "Late Show with David Letterman" mainstay Anton Fig under the production eye of Kevin Shirley (Aerosmith, Black Crowes), all the Engines tracks were recorded by Satriani and his co-producer Eric Caudieux. The result is a heaping helping of sound collage, jarring leaps and mind-altering segues, ripped apart by sudden percussive blasts and liquid flurries of notes. It's a complex blend, but remains Satriani, pure and simple.