Despite its overly ambitious two-CD length, Electric World is a measuring frontwards for guitarist Neal Schon. Two years earlier Electric World, he returned to solo recording alongside the acoustic Beyond the Thunder, which showed promise, but was mostly unfocused. He may all the same meander on Electric World, but it's a richer listen. Essentially, the tape is a fusion do inward the vein of Carlos Santana, which shouldn't endure a surprise, since Schon spent much of the mid-'90s playing alongside the legendary guitarist. There's less meat to Schon's music than Santana's, since he can't resist slick, polished production too plays similar a session musician, but there's no denying that Electric World is ane of his virtually accomplished efforts to date.
Joe Cefalu of Guitar Player Magazine explains, "For nearly 3 decades, Neal Schon too his guitar accept generated an unrelenting dictionary of heartfelt, soul-stirring music. Over the years, the human relationship betwixt the 2 has grown increasingly vital too musically fruitful. On this, his 2nd HIgher Octave release, Neal broadens his musical focus on a global scale too creates a myriad of soundscapes equally vastly inspired equally they are various - welcome to Neal Schon's "Electric World"." On this all-instrumental release, the guitarist powerfully illustrates his might to pigment musical images equally brilliant equally those of whatever vocalist. Guest musicians include Michael Carabello, Zakir Hussain, Alphonso Johnson, Igor Len, Walfredo Reyes Jr., Steve Smith too Kit Walker. Now, this "Electric World" is yours to explore.
This is a genuinely incredible record, ranking alongside the overstep fusion albums of all time. And it's a double album no less. Neal Schon is a gifted composer too guitarist both. I've had this tape for years too am e'er amazed when I come upwards dorsum to it. This is non what ane would hold off from a fellow member of a popular band, which mayhap explains simply about of the opinions of reviewers who were disappointed. If you're into to a greater extent than sophisticated primarily instrumental genres (classical and/or jazz too peculiarly jazz fusion), you'll in all probability honey this record.
Track listing:
Disc 1
1. Night Spirit
2. Nyc
3. Highway 1
4. Electric World
5. Gypsy Dance
6. My Past Life
7. Memphis Voodoo
8. Breaking Waves
9. Midnight Express
10. Living Desert
11. The Dragon
Disc 2
12. Medicine Man
13. The Emperor
14. Emerald Forest
15. One too Only
16. High Mileage
17. Scram
18. Mandolin Sky
19. Eye on the World
20. All Our Yesterdays
21. A Prayer for Peace
Personnel:
Neal Schon guitars
Igor Len bass, keyboards, synth drums
Alphonso Johnson bass
Walfredo Reyes drums
Michael Carabello percussion
Steve Smith drums
Kit Walker keyboards
Zakir Hussein percussion
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