After the train-wreck disaster of Holdsworth's showtime solo release, the infamous Velvet Darkness, it wasn't until 3 years later on that he reconsidered doing a existent solo unloose versus the before ripoff of an authorized studio mishmash production he suffered. So inward 1979 he recorded I.O.U. on a fly in addition to a prayer in addition to loans (ergo, an IOU recording project). With his rattling successful stints amongst other groups inward the intervening fourth dimension period, such every bit UK in addition to Bruford, Holdsworth's guitar prowess in addition to shout out were clearly on the map. Holdsworth similar a shot needed to hold out the leader he clearly was in addition to thus unloose an official solo record. The existent Allan Holdsworth unleashed is at concluding revealed on I.O.U. inward his original compositions in addition to well-crafted soloing, versus beingness precisely business office of a grouping in addition to forced to remain inside for certain boundaries of other bandmates' design. I.O.U., every bit a solo release, is high-quality jazz fusion interplay, offering emotive compositions, ethereal guitar atmospherics, complex chordal progressions, in addition to intense legato explosions of guitar that prepare the touchstone for many guitarists to come. There is no acoustic guitar this time, but a wee chip of Holdsworth on violin appears inward i song.
Allan Holdsworth makes modern fusion albums: this tape has rattling dedicated electrical guitar sounds. I mean value he uses a book final result to sometimes reach rattling ethereal, echoed, urban & refined floating guitar sounds, similar on the "Shallow sea" or "Letters of Marquee" tracks: it sounds a chip similar the guitar book final result of the King Crimson's "Matte Kudasai" track, on the "Discipline" album. When Holdsworth plays a to a greater extent than conventional audio here, he quite sounds similar the Pat Metheny's electrical guitar on the "American garage" album. There are no keyboards on the record, mayhap precisely an fantabulous pianoforte business office on "Temporary fault". The atomic number 82 vocals audio a chip similar the phonation of Gary Chandler (Jadis). Holdsworth's numerous guitar solos are rattling elaborated, although they are to a greater extent than technically impressive than they tin post away hold out catchy. The bass in addition to drums are quite complex, fast in addition to refined. Gary Husband's drum solo on "Letters of Marquee" is ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL! Just plough upwardly the book in addition to bask the ability of it!
This is approximately other peachy house to start for the uninitiated. But y'all may desire to wait. Allan precisely secured the rights to his before recording in addition to at that spot is verbalize of re-releasing/re-mastering this album amongst approximately added tracks which were "lost" during the showtime pressing. If y'all tin post away teach a re-create of this, grab it. This is Allan's showtime "REAL" elbow grease to convey his music to the earth in addition to he does so inward a stunning fashion. This album consists of 50% instrumental in addition to 50% vocal tracks. Don't hold out seat off past times Paul Williams voice. He's non great, but he is competent (stays on key). Holdsworth tears it up, on violin too. Some of the solos volition displace y'all to rewind in addition to play over in addition to over to seek in addition to imagine what he's doing. Blistering, non precisely speed, but the fluidity of the notes (legato) in addition to the passion he plays with. Gary Husband marks his debut amongst IOU in addition to he sets a rattling flowing pulse anchored past times Paul Carmichael. It's hard to shout out for out whatever unmarried rail every bit a stand upwardly out because the stream of the album makes for i enjoyable listen. The Things You See in addition to Letters of Marque are nevertheless fans favs today.
To telephone phone this groundbreaking would hold out an understatement. After years of playing "hired gun" in addition to adding colorful embroidering to the plant of others, Allan Holdsworth inward no uncertain price served discover he had something unique of his ain to offer. Ghostly extruded chords, angular intervalic tune lines, anarchaic drumming in addition to Coltrane-like flurries of notes trip the low-cal fantastic toe collide twist in addition to plough on themselves inward ways never before thoght possible. Having seen this lineup alive (circa 1982), It was amazing to meet Allan exercise things on a guitar that precisely sounded impossible! Gary Husband's drumming is a peachy illustration of "controlled chaos", providing a peachy foil for Allan's unorthodox musical ideas every bit Paul Carmichael provides venture bass support.
Allan Holdsworth's proper debut after the disastrous 'Velvet Darkness' (and a articulation venture amongst Gordon Beck) was a tranquillity but definite triumph, in addition to the fact that few seemed to discover didn't diminish the musical ripples this LP sent out. It presented a music altogether new, led past times a thespian who had arrived inward a big agency in addition to took the notion of jazz-rock to a dissimilar place. 'The Things You See' has Paul Williams dorsum inward peachy form, Paul Carmichael's sensitive bass in addition to the unstoppable Gary Husband on traps. Unassuming but fantastically complex is 'Where is One', dotted amongst many picayune tastes of Holdsworth's brilliance. Here was much to a greater extent than than precisely fusion. 'Checking Out' rocks amongst smart arrangements in addition to fresh ideas, 'Letters of Marque' features rich atmospherics in addition to a kick-ass drum solo from Husband. 'Out From Under' is heavy jazz amongst Holdsworth's signature atonalities, demonstrating Williams' vocal talents in addition to musical understanding, in addition to 'Shallow Sea' is an instrumental showcase. There is every peril y'all may loathe this record, in addition to that's okay. It's progressive, it rocks, in addition to inward 1982 was an astounding musical statement. Challenging, hard in addition to absolutely brilliant.
Tracks Listing
1. The things y'all meet (when y'all haven't got your gun) (5:50)
2. Where is i (5:32)
3. Checking out (3:34)
4. Letters of Marquee (6:57)
5. Out from nether (3:32)
6. Temporary error (3:15)
7. Shallow bounding main (5:51)
8. White trouble (4:50)
Total Time: 39:21
Line-up / Musicians
- Paul Carmichael / bass
- Allan Holdsworth / guitar, violin
- Gary Husband / drums, piano
- Paul Williams / vocals
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