High Tension Wires (digi)

This album is the first Morse's solo effort. He founded the jazz-fusion (actually jazz, rock, country, classical) band Dixie Dregs in the seventies and released with them six superb studio albums. On this solo record, Steve is backed by some of the other Dixie members. The music is nonetheless much more melodic. The opening track is a beautiful track where Steve's guitar is accompanied by Allen Sloan's sensitive violin. 'Tumeni notes' (read too many notes) is a tribute to Bach, with a fast pace à la Malmsteen. 'Leprechaun promenade' is a track that was previously played with Dixie Dregs on the record 'Dregs of the night'. It is full of rythm changes. 'Modoc' is an acoustic piece, it is briliant. The other tracks are full of emotions. Every song is good and all in all, this album deserves to be listened to by every music lover on earth.

I was 22 years old when I bought this CD.At that time I didn't know Steve Morse at all. When I put it on my player, I was blown out: the intro of "ghostwind" was simply great and its development was even more astonishing. I remember that I thought that the first track was the best one and that the other ones were surely not on the same level as the first (I was used to listen to guitar players that sold their album thanks to only one or two tracks). Well, I was wrong: here every track seemed to be better than the previous one and eventually when I finished to listen to the last one I realized: this guitar player is incredible not just for his superb technique but above all for his genious mind! Why he is not famous in Italy? (Before Deep Purple it was very difficult to find his albums.)
His work is a mixture of various influences all blended together, it is hard to classify it. You will love this album either you like rock, or heavy, or pop, or jazz, or new age, or classics, or country...
Steve has collaborated with many great artists and bands of different generes during his career (Barrueco, Petrucci, McLaughlin, Dixie Dregs, Kansas, Deep Purple...): this means that he is obviously very well appreciated and shows his great passion for all different kind of music.
I'm not exagerating if I say that it's a must have for everyone!

this album is an example of what is spawned when a truely gifted guitarist just plays from his heart. this album has a very strong celtic theme which is something to be admired. i hope this doesn't disencourage anybody from buying it, although i don't see how. the tracks are moledic and sweet. if you have never heard of him and you want to buy your first ablum from him, this is the one. most of the tracks are gripers except for one or two. this album should be a priority on your list.