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
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