ALLAN HOLDSWORTH — Wardenclyffe Tower + 3 (1992-2008) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This 1992 release features Holdsworth in conversation with usual compatriots Jimmy Johnson, Chad Wackerman, and Gary Husband. Keyboards are provided not only by Steve Hunt, but also by both Wackerman and Husband. Husband in particular demonstrates that his facility on the keyboards is equal to his skill on the drums. Despite the all-star cast of characters, there are certain peculiarities to Wardenclyffe Tower that prevent it from being numbered among Holdsworth's best work. One very obvious oddity is the strange and ill-advised ending to the opener, "5 to 10," which concludes with a toilet flushing and an annoying voice-over. Mistakes in judgment aside, there is something formless about this album, something that blurs the tracks together in a meaningless way. Holdsworth has always been more of a distinctive than a strong composer, and the batch of tunes that he contributes here is not very compelling. The title track, with its power-chord verse, and his collaboration with singer Naomi Star, "Against the Clock," are his strongest moments. The presence of Hunt's "Dodgy Boat" helps but it is not enough to elevate this album to the level of Holdsworth's past successes. This is not to say that there is not meaningful music on Wardenclyffe Tower, because there is. "Against the Clock," which features not only Star's voice but also the drums of Vinnie Colaiuta, is one such success. Holdsworth makes use of the SynthAxe guitar synthesizer on several tracks on Wardenclyffe Tower, the most effective use of which is here, where his solo emerges from empty space in a constantly accelerating fashion, like a boulder rolling down a hill (although Holdsworth's ascending line sets forth the impossible scenario of falling upwards). All in all, however, there is a lack of dynamic movement in the soloists and the compositions in general. Of value to Holdsworth completists, but not of much interest to casual fans. Daniel Gioffre  

Tracklist :

1 5 To 10 5:36

Bass – Jimmy Johnson 

Drums – Chad Wackerman

Guitar, Synthaxe, Soloist [Guitar] – Allan Holdsworth

Soloist [Keyboards] – Steve Hunt

Voice [Jazz Fan] – oel (The Demon Barber) Schnebelt

Written-By – A. Holdsworth

2 Sphere Of Influence 5:58

Bass – Jimmy Johnson  

Drums – Gary Husband

Guitar, Soloist [Guitar] – Allan Holdsworth

Soloist [Keyboards] – Steve Hunt  

Written-By – A. Holdsworth 

3 Wardenclyffe Tower 8:44

Bass – Jimmy Johnson 

Drums – Chad Wackerman

Guitar, Synthaxe, Soloist [Synthaxe] – Allan Holdsworth

Soloist [Keyboards] – Gary Husband

Written-By – A. Holdsworth

4 Dodgy Boat 5:37

Bass, Soloist [Bass] – Jimmy Johnson 

Drums – Gary Husband

Guitar, Soloist [Guitar] – Allan Holdsworth

Keyboards, Soloist [Keyboards] – Steve Hunt  

Written-By – S. Hunt 

5 Zarabeth 6:31

Bass – Jimmy Johnson 

Drums – Chad Wackerman

Guitar, Soloist [Guitar] – Allan Holdsworth

Keyboards, Soloist [Keyboards] – Steve Hunt 

Written-By – A. Holdsworth 

6 Against The Clock 4:58

Bass – Jimmy Johnson 

Drums, Soloist [Drums] – Vinnie Colaiuta

Synthaxe, Soloist [Synthaxe] – Allan Holdsworth

Vocals – Naomi Star

Written-By – A. Holdsworth 

7 Questions 4:07

Bass – Jimmy Johnson  

Drums, Keyboards – Chad Wackerman

Guitar, Soloist [Guitar] – Allan Holdsworth

Written-By – C. Wackerman 

8 Oneiric Moor 1:43

Guitar – Allan Holdsworth

Written-By – A. Holdsworth 

- Bonus Tracks - 

9 Tokyo Dream 5:05

Bass – Jimmy Johnson  

Drums – Chad Wackerman

Guitar, Synthaxe – Allan Holdsworth

Keyboards – Gordon Beck

Written-By – A. Holdsworth 

10 The Unmerry Go Round Part 4 3:01

Bass – Jimmy Johnson 

Drums – Chad Wackerman

Guitar – Allan Holdsworth

Soloist [Piano] – Gordon Beck

Written-By – A. Holdsworth 

11 The Unmerry Go Round Part 5 1:58

Bass – Jimmy Johnson 

Drums – Chad Wackerman

Guitar, Guitar [Baritone] – Allan Holdsworth

Written-By – A. Holdsworth