Album Review – SatchVai – The Sea Of Emotion
© Andy Balcam, Balcshootsbands
And so it came to pass that, after more than half a century of friendship and collaboration, guitar legends Joe Satriani and Steve Vai have finally made a studio album together.
The record is a joy from start to finish with the unique, virtuoso playing of the two men channelled expertly into the exoskeleton of the 10 tracks.
Overseer and long-time Satch collaborator Eric Caudieux produces and adds keyboards helping to create an album which feels like the sum of its parts rather than the distinct work of two eminent individuals. The compositions throughout are song-based and melodic but are still full to bursting with the axe hero pyrotechnics and harmonic trickery that are so much a part of the metier of both men.
Opening with the galloping single Mayhem the two are quick to set out their stall. Clever melodic twists, silky harmonies and blistering lead work rush toward a truly climactic middle section before tearing off into the sunset again on a sea of pounding drums.
Bronco Freight Train heavies things up significantly and introduces some wild, whammy-induced themes and suitably bonkers soloing whilst Dancing is another single blessed with an infectious bossa nova-esque beat and lovely, quirky interplay – not to mention an hilarious video.
The Feeling I Know begins gently with some otherworldly clean chords before assuming a darker, funkier edge with more great harmony play from the two storied axemen. From there the song just soars – still funky but in a breezier, more uplifting way.
Zoot Suit Riot is the album’s most unhinged and rifftastic number and sounds like the track that was the most fun to play and record – oodles of witty exchanges juxtaposed with some huge, filthy riffing.
The portentous intro to Old Sins Have Long Shadows gives way to a swinging guitar motif that the band then build on with yet more strong melodies and killer lead licks flying in from everywhere.
There’s a constellation of celebrated co-conspirators including alumni of both mens’ bands such as drummers Gregg Bissonette, Jeremy Colson, Kenny Aronoff, Matt Chamberlain and Mike Mangini, and masters of the low end Billy Sheehan, Bryan Beller, Philip Bynoe, Matt Bissonette, Marco Mendoza and Henrik Linderturn.
All turn in gargantuan performances throughout but it’s I Wanna Play My Guitar that feels most like it was performed by a ‘band’ and is crowned by the great Glenn Hughes in particularly fine form on vocals.
The album’s centrepiece and undoubted triumph is the 3-part, 17-minute title track. It’s completely impossible to describe … just rest assured that it has absolutely everything and more that you could possibly desire from a partnership between Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. Beautiful melodies, growling riffs, unorthodox harmonies, mind-boggling beats and, of course, dazzling guitar sorcery.
Part 2 opens with some delicious nylon string work before evolving into a rolling groove and possibly the strongest electric lead of the whole album.
Part 3, subtitled Reflections On A Year And A Half, begins with an original tape of the pair recorded during one of their lessons over 50 years ago before the modern-day band pick up the riff and run with it.
It’s a testament to these giants of the guitar world that, 5 decades into their respective careers, they can craft a collection of songs that are unmistakably them but still sound fresh, energetic and fun. What is also clear is the mutual respect and lack of ego that went into this record as each man is always complementing and making room for the other with neither player dominating.
Let’s hope we get to see these pieces brought to life real soon.
Review: Andy Balcam
Photo Credit: © Larry DiMarzio
Tracklist
1. Mayhem (3:39)
2. Bronco Freight Train (5:07)
3. Dancing (3:40)
4. The Feeling I Know (5:57)
5. Zoot Suit Riot (4:36)
6. Old Sins Have Long Shadows (4:43)
7. I Wanna Play My Guitar (4:16)
8. The Sea Of Emotion Pt. 1 (5:49)
9. The Sea Of Emotion Pt. 2 (5:20)
10. The Sea Of Emotion Pt. 3 / Reflections On A Year And A Half (6:39)
SatchVai’s new album “The Sea of Emotion,” featuring Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, is released by earMUSIC on November 6th. Pre-order the album at www.satchvaiband.com.
