From the artist roster, it appears someone held a party and invited their favorite guitarists--Phil Keaggy, Wes King, and Scott Dente (Out of the Grey). Not a bad idea. I wonder what they told them to bring? They seem to have showed up with an extraordinary number of different guitars, a couple of drummers, and an occasional bass player. I quit counting the guitars after twenty. It's clear to see that they are a passion with these three.
But this isn't a party album. It's the kind you want to get real comfortable with, turning on your best speakers or headphones, and laying back to savor the guitar work. Listen several times to catch the many nuances--the Celtic feel of "Isle of Skye," the upbeat jazzy feel of "Perspicuity," and the world music feel of "Budapest Control." This is an album filled with all kinds of sonic pleasures, but they never really let go and explore any new ground.
As we all know, however, we aren't in paradise yet. I loved Keaggy's Beatlesque "River of Life" with its "Day Tripper"-type introduction (especially the hooky chorus), but the other three lyrical arrangements seemed like an intrusion into my private listening world. Still, a nice release for a fire and a cold winter night.
3 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Rebel Base 2002Reviewed by David MartinWell, here's an interesting gem of an album that I overlooked when it first came out. On the day my girlfriend and I got together, she gave me this CD along with a few other thoughtful gifts. Entitled Invention, this album represents the latter half of an experiment by Sparrow Records in the mid 90's - the collaboration of three artists on their roster. The first installment, Along the Road, came…The Phantom Tollbooth 1997Reviewed by Lisa ReidIt should go without saying that this CD is a must-buy if you are a big guitar fan. Phil Keaggy is a legendary guitar player of long-standing reputation in the Christian music industry, and is well-known for experimenting with different styles. Wes King and Scott Dente (known for his work with Out of the Grey) are also strong guitarists in their own right. When these three men come together on…Similar sounding releases
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