ALLAN HOLDSWORTH — Hard Hat Area (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Allan Holdsworth is arguably one of the most important post-Hendrix electric guitarists to grace either the fusion or rock scenes, while Hard Hat Area, signifies one of the artist's better solo excursions. With this 1994 effort, the guitarist receives excellent support from Icelandic electric bass phenom Skuli Sverrissson, whereas keyboardist Steve Hunt renders melodically tinged synth lines and ethereal backwashes throughout. Essentially, the group produces a series of climactic overtures, accelerated by a distinct sense of uninhibited force. On pieces such as "Ruhkukah" and "Low Levels, High Stakes," the musicians surge forward with a deterministic flair via a few tricky time signatures and lyrically charged themes atop Holdsworth's climactically driven solos. Consequently, the group conveys an underlying sense of tension and release, as Holdsworth's scathing legato-based lines might spur notions of a hawk zooming in on its prey. Thus, a must-have for the ardent Holdsworth aficionado. Glenn Astarita  
Tracklist :
1.    Prelude 1:35
Guitar – Allan Holdsworth
Keyboards – Steve Hunt
Written-By – A. Holdsworth, S. Hunt
2.    Ruhkukah 5:34
Soloist [Solos Guitar] – Allan Holdsworth
Soloist [Solos Keyboards] – Steve Hunt
Written-By – A. Holdsworth
3.    Low Levels, High Stakes 9:05
Soloist [Solos Bass] – Skúli Sverrisson
Soloist [Solos Guitar] – Allan Holdsworth
Soloist [Solos Piano] – Steve Hunt
Written-By – A. Holdsworth
4.    Hard Hat Area 6:06
Bass – Skúli Sverrisson
Guitar, SynthAxe – Allan Holdsworth
Written-By – A. Holdsworth
5.    Tullio 6:06
Soloist [Solos Guitar] – Allan Holdsworth
Soloist [Solos Keyboards] – Steve Hunt
Written-By – A. Holdsworth
6.    House Of Mirrors 7:47
Soloist [Solos Guitar] – Allan Holdsworth
Soloist [Solos Keyboards] – Steve Hunt
Written-By – A. Holdsworth
7.    Postlude 5:29
Keyboards [Chords] – Steve Hunt
Soloist [Solos Bass] – Skúli Sverrisson
Soloist [Solos Keyboards] – Steve Hunt
Soloist [Solos SynthAxe] – Allan Holdsworth
SynthAxe [Melody] – Allan Holdsworth
Written-By – A. Holdsworth, G. Husband, S. Sverrisson, S. Hunt