A World Away

CLOSE TO EDEN (December 2010)

“CLOSE TO EDEN” is my 2010 follow up to the CD “WHAT LIES BENEATH”. It’s CD number six in a line featuring rocky, funky, bluesy guitar instrumentals. This time round its maximum music with no vocal intrusions getting in the way. It contains fifteen original compositions along the same lines as Joe Satriani, Dave Gilmour, Larry Carlton, Peter White and Carlos Santana.

The CD features Ibanez, Fender, Yamaha and Musicman acoustic / electric / bass guitars with a bit of help from Korg, Yamaha, Line 6 and Boss outboard products.

Track 1 – Eastern Promise (5.35)

The last track recorded for the CD this is based on a riff in the key of E inspired by Joe Satriani. The track has an eastern feel, hence the title, well that’s a surprise. The first part of the solo hangs around a spanish gypsy scale for those who like that kind of thing. It was unusual in that I fully worked out the solo in advance. You'll also find the same scale right at the end of the track Judas Kiss. The guitar featured is mainly my older strat with some yamaha acoustic.

Track 2 – Butterfly Effect (4.23)

The Am / C / D ish Keyboard / Guitar riff is something I'd been playing around with for a long time. I used the Deluxe Strat and the Ibanez S on this track. There a couple of ever so slight errors on the solo, but I liked the feel so I kept it. See, I’m not always OCD.

Track 3 – On Cloud Nine (2.25)

The song was written and the backing was recorded in one session on 01/09/2010. The guitars were then added on 05/09/2010. The CD was already finished when I wrote this and Eastern Promise and Butterfly Effect so the inclusion of these tracks meant three other tracks had to bite the dust. The mood for the track came from listening to "Last Goodbye" by Jonny Lang. The track features my current favourite D to Dmaj7 chord change, which is dotted all over this CD in various guises.

Track 4 – With A Gun (5.15)

Inspired by listening to Philip Sayce / Glenn Hughes / Richie Kotzen. The first part is 120bpm and a bit funky. The ending "Kashmir" like section at 90bpm was originally written as part of a separate song but they were both in the key of E so they meshed quite well.

Track 5 – A Brighter State (5.02)

This track was influenced by listening to the "Mandalaband". The drums at the chorus and the start and the end effects are samples. The track also features sounds from the Korg Trinity. I think the chorus has an uplifting kind of feel, hence the title.

Track 6 – Long Dark Road (4.55)

Inspired by listening to the band "Riversea". They’re not very well known but you'll find them on myspace. They do the melancholic ballad to perfection.

Track 7 – Love Like Belladonna (5.48)

This song was written in April 2008 for the last CD "What Lies Beneath" but was not used and the guitars were only recorded in April 2010. It's influenced by Neil Zaza. The middle guitar riff is taken from a track called "You'll Pay" which I wrote for the band Baghdad Poly back in the early 80's! The track features the Korg Trinity for some sounds on the backing.

Track 8 – A Bitter Pill (To Swallow) (7.17)

Another longish track. Sometimes we have to take our medicine. All recorded on the older strat.

Track 9 – Judas Kiss (6.15)

Triggered by hearing Superstition for the first time in ages. The heavyish start is influenced by Dream Theater. Guitars used on the track are my Ibanez S for the verse wah, my old strat for the solos and my new strat for other bits. The end features the Korg Trinity utilising the Vox morphing setting

Track 10 – A World Away (4.49)

A track on which I was looking to sound like the band "Engineers". It's a dreamy, drifty type of number, well that was the intention anyway. Lots of reverbbbbbbb on the guitars.

Track 11 – Once A Fool (4.38)

This track is built around a rocky riff in E in the vein of Johnny A. The twangy strat is to the fore

Track 12 – At Sixes And Sevens (4.25)

The verse chords for this Dadd9 /Dmaj 9 / Em7 / Em7b5 are based on a Paul Gilbert sound alike sequence written in November 2008

Track 13 – Dead In The Water (6.05)

Originally had the working title Darkside. I remixed this just before releasing the CD adding in the spookyish piano at the intro.

Track 14 – Sugar Rush Shuffle (3.49)

Uses parts on a song I wrote called Mighty Mighty Shuffle many years ago that I couldn't ever finish. It's a 12bar ish shuffle in A but I've also thrown in a few homebrew A demolished type chords. It is slightly cheesy I will admit.

Track 15 – September Of My Life (7.47)

Last track on the CD, it's a bit of a long one this. Quite a bit of nylon acoustic guitar on the verse and the start of the solo but the end section mutates a bit with some rock riffing!. Put the strobe on and play air guitar round your lounge. Hopefully I'm in the August of my life, but who knows, I may already be in December with the grim reaper waiting in the shadows!