BLUES
SARACENO - Never look back
- (1989)Guitar: Saraceno, Blues
Bass: Coven, Randy
Drums: Franco, Joe
Never look back, Blues Saraceno first solo record, was recorded when he was just a young boy, but man he already had it all!!!
Blues is a very melodic player, who loves the blues (and you can clearly hera it from his phrasing, which is also energetic and not as laid back as could be tempted to think: the guy rocks!!), but has a clear and well rounded technique too.
Remember when is a good example, with a quiet but groovy line and a Satriani -like chord progression (à la "Always with me, always with you").
The title track is a rocky act where Blues shows all his energy with blues based phrasing which sounds still very fresh and enjoyable. Tappin' section too!
Blues also manages to make short tracks, so you won't be bored with any of the songs. Just the right lenght to show you his prowess and his talent. Blues has a wide vibrato, very energetic and he also uses overbends to make things even more interestin'.
Full tank is an up-to-tempo blues where Blues also takes a break and plays some neoclassical stuff, complete with arpeggios and the final sweep pickin... :)
Jay walkin' follows the direction, with some funked up lines. He goes more technique here, with some tappin' which shows his Van Halen influence.
Deliverance is an acoustic peaceful track, with some airy progression and some interestin' variations too. Could be a good soundtrack for a western movie. Soundin' very Ennio Morricone here and there !
The shakes wakes you up and features Blues at his usual blues based playin'. He shuffles as hell too! The riff is very earcatchin', and then Blues plays some interestin' soundin' arpeggios, not the Yngwie-like stuff so many players have abused of. Solo is injected with wha wha frenzy.
Blues also plays some fingerpicked stuff. You can say he was xery complete for a 16-17 years old boy!
Before the storm is my favourite track: beautiful beautiful chord progression, with melodic solo lines, spiced with harmonics, both artificial and natural, and a calibrated use of whammy bar too.
More great bluesy passages, and a switchin' in style really interestin', where Blues turns on his pedal to the metal, but then goes into a beatiful Van Halen soundin' (à la "Cathedral") delay line.
He just plays one beatiful line after the other. And then there's also a slapped bass interlude, which will of course lead to some funk to shake your ass a bit!!! Great song, period.
Funk 49 is a cover of Joe Walsh masterpiece. Here our Blues gladly plays, well, blues!
Jitter blast is a tappin' showcase, which once more shows the big impact Eddie Van Halen surely had on our guitarist. Cool percussive hammer on section which reminds me of Satch too.
The album closes with Frazin', a rock tune where blues goes once more melodic and groovy (where's the new?).
Blues gave us a really brilliant album, where he shows you can love the blues but still keep a fresh approach to it.
He's a really good player, with very good technique never used for the sake of it. Wonder how good he is NOW!!!
Rating: 8-1/2.
(reviewed by Max)