(Jazz-Fusion) [LP] [24/96] Allan Holdsworth - 5 LP's - 1976 - 1989, FLAC (tracks+.cue)

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Analyzed folder: Allan Holdsworth - Velvet Darkness (LP)
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DR Peak RMS Filename
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DR13 -1.85 dB -17.12 dB 01 Allan Holdsworth - LADO 1- Good Clean Filth.wav
DR15 -8.14 dB -29.18 dB 02 Allan Holdsworth - Floppy Hat.wav
DR14 -1.16 dB -17.07 dB 03 Allan Holdsworth - Wish.wav
DR14 -8.63 dB -30.46 dB 04 Allan Holdsworth - Kinder.wav
DR12 -0.85 dB -15.27 dB 05 Allan Holdsworth - LADO 2- Velvet Darkness.wav
DR13 -0.87 dB -15.31 dB 06 Allan Holdsworth - Karzie Key.wav
DR12 -12.44 dB -27.79 dB 07 Allan Holdsworth - Last May.wav
DR13 -1.06 dB -15.74 dB 08 Allan Holdsworth - Gattox.wav
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Number of files: 8
Official DR value: DR13
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Despite some obvious sound quality problems, I actually like this recording quite a bit. It sounds not so much like an Allan Holdsworth album, but more like a band brought together to sound like the Mahvishnu Orchestra. And they do a pretty good job of it. The opening track, Good Clean Filth is the most Mahavishnu-like on the album, and it helps that sound to have Narada Michael Walden on drums. Elsewhere, Holdsworth's violin also adds to the MO type sound. A few excellent acoustic pieces also showcase Holdsworth's skills. And while his distinctive compositional style is not yet developed here, the songs are interesting enough.
BTW, the Epic CD I have from 1990 has five bonus tracks, alternate takes of some of the songs on the album, totalling over twenty minutes.
I know it doesn't sound like classic Holdsworth, but I like it more than most of his Synthaxe works.
progarchives.com

Acoustic Guitar – Allan Holdsworth (tracks: A2, A4, B3)
Bass – Alphonse Johnson*
Drums – Narada*
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Guitar – Allan Holdsworth
Piano – Alan Pasqua
Producer – Creed Taylor
Violin – Allan Holdsworth (tracks: B2)

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Analyzed folder: Allan Holdsworth - Metal Fatigue (LP)
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DR Peak RMS Filename
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DR14 -0.39 dB -16.28 dB 01 Allan Holdsworth With I.O.U. - LADO 1- Metal Fatigue.wav
DR13 -2.47 dB -17.73 dB 02 Allan Holdsworth With I.O.U. - Home.wav
DR12 -2.15 dB -16.63 dB 03 Allan Holdsworth With I.O.U. - Devil Take The Hindmost.wav
DR11 -2.93 dB -16.83 dB 04 Allan Holdsworth With I.O.U. - Panic Station.wav
DR14 -2.27 dB -18.77 dB 05 Allan Holdsworth With I.O.U. - LADO 2- The Un-Merry-Go-Round (In Loving Memory Of My Father).wav
DR12 -1.98 dB -16.87 dB 06 Allan Holdsworth With I.O.U. - In The Mystery.wav
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Number of files: 6
Official DR value: DR12
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"Metal Fatigue" was released back in 1985 and still sounds great after all these years. Great guitar techniques and solo's backed up by excellent instrumentation works from drummer Chad Wackerman and bassist Gary Willis, to name a few. A very moody album, with an overall light and cheerful feeling to it, though the music is also serious and complex at the same time. The compositions are solid and creative with great playing throughout. Holdsworth's guitar is not too dominant, but his solo's are especially notable throughout and the keyboards featured on this album adds a colorful and dreamy atmosphere that suits the elegant, yet appealing music extremely well. The production is clear and gives you all those details in a perfectly fine way. The only bad thing about this album is the painfully short playing-time at 37 minutes. It should have been at least 10 minutes longer, hehe! Sadly, it's not, but that doesn't stop me from giving this album 5 stars!
Overall, a colorful and interesting Jazz-Fusion release with clear 80's influences, but that does not drag this album down. Not in the slightest! Jazz-Rock and/or Holdsworth fans should definetly not miss this one at all costs. I'll give this one a perfect 5 star, or at least 4.5 stars!
Song highlights: "Metal Fatigue", "Devil Take the Hindmost" and "The Un-Merry Go Round". The rest is excellent as well, though "Panic Station" and "In The Mystery" might not appeal to everyone. Highly recommended!
progarchives.com

Bass – Gary Willis (tracks: B1), Jimmy Johnson (5) (tracks: A1, A2, A3, A4, B2)
Drums – Chad Wackerman (tracks: A1, A2, A3, A4), Gary Husband (tracks: B1), Mac Hine (tracks: B2)
Engineer – Biff Vincent , Dan Humann , Dennis McKay , Gary Wagner (2) , Robert Feist
Guitar, Producer, Engineer – Allan Holdsworth
Keyboards – Alan Pasqua (tracks: B1)
Management – Gary Lo Conti
Photography By – Robin D'Arcy
Vocals – Paul Korda (tracks: B2), Paul Williams (10) (tracks: A1, A4)

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Analyzed folder: /Allan Holdsworth - Atavachron (LP)
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DR Peak RMS Filename
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DR12 -1.19 dB -15.98 dB 01 Allan Holdsworth - LADO 1- Non Brewed Condiment.wav
DR12 -0.00 dB -14.59 dB 02 Allan Holdsworth - Funnels.wav
DR12 -0.91 dB -15.50 dB 03 Allan Holdsworth - The Dominant Plague.wav
DR12 -1.77 dB -16.68 dB 04 Allan Holdsworth - LADO 2- Atavachron.wav
DR13 -0.87 dB -16.25 dB 05 Allan Holdsworth - Looking Glass.wav
DR12 -1.50 dB -16.01 dB 06 Allan Holdsworth - Mr Berwell.wav
DR13 -1.56 dB -18.99 dB 07 Allan Holdsworth - All Our Yesterdays.wav
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Number of files: 7
Official DR value: DR12
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I don't understand the hate, or at least disdain directed at this album. Is it the incredible nerdiness of the cover, which has a painting depicting Allan Holdsworth in a Star Trek-like uniform, holding his new toy, a Synthaxe MIDI controller? It can't be the music, which is similar in structure to most of Holdsworth's releases, and as usually, expertly performed. I'll admit, I have to be in the right mood to listen to a Holdsworth album. His compositional style, which consists of chords that sometimes sound strung together in random fashion, is demanding for the listener, and if you are not in the correct frame of mind, often tedious.
Nonetheless, if you have the energy to follow the songs, it can be quite rewarding. Holdsworth's songs take you where no other guitarist goes, and his fluid soloing over difficult to master chord progressions is just amazing.
progarchives.com

- Allan Holdsworth / guitar, synthaxe guitar synthesizer
- Billy Childs / keyboards (2-5)
- Gary Husband / drums (1-4-6)
- Jimmy Johnson / bass (1 to 6)
- Rowanne Mark / vocals (7)
- Alan Pasqua / keyboards (3-4-6)
- Chad Wackerman / drums (3-7)
- Tony Williams / drums

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Analyzed folder: /Allan Holdsworth ?- Sand (LP)
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DR Peak RMS Filename
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DR13 -0.96 dB -16.81 dB 01 Allan Holdsworth - LADO 1- Sand.wav
DR10 -2.56 dB -16.84 dB 02 Allan Holdsworth - Distance Vs. Desire.wav
DR14 -0.06 dB -17.38 dB 03 Allan Holdsworth - Pud Wud.wav
DR13 -1.19 dB -16.80 dB 04 Allan Holdsworth - LADO 2- Clown.wav
DR13 -1.20 dB -17.48 dB 05 Allan Holdsworth - The 4.15 Bradford Executive.wav
DR15 -1.30 dB -18.66 dB 06 Allan Holdsworth - Mac Man.wav
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Number of files: 6
Official DR value: DR13
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This album is quite unusual for Holdsworth guitar sound fans, but it doesn't mean it's bad one. Main difference is there are only one full size classic Holdsworth's guitar composition ("Pud Wud", with Alan Pasqua's great keyboards on it). All others are very experimental, and the listener will be surprised because many of them don't sound as guitar- based jazz-fusion at all. The reason is Holdsworth uses Synthaxe guitar on this album. It is device combining usual electric guitar with breath controller and synthesizer. So, beside playing as with usual electric guitar, musician has the possibility to use it for getting unusual sounds as from sax or keyboards. So, in many compositions you can hear keyboards-like sound which in reality is a sound of Holdsworth guitar.
As a result, this album contains very different music, only part of which is fusion. Many other sounds and rhythm structures gave to the music more experimental character. Main problem for listener possibly is that being a highly experimental in sense of using new instrument technologies, too often music itself is placed on the second plan. And sometimes you will feel as you are listening a demonstration of new device abilities.
The musicians team are great, and Holsdsworth talent is used in his full , so album still became a nice work. Possibly, more attractive for new sound searchers, than for Holdsworth's guitar sound fans.
progarchives.com

- John England / Mac computer
- Allan Holdsworth / guitar, synthaxe
- Gary Husband / drums
- Jimmy Johnson / bass
- Alan Pasqua / keyboards
- Biff Vincent / Octopad bass
- Chad Wackerman / drums
Producer – Allan Holdsworth

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Analyzed folder: /Allan Holdsworth - Secrets (LP)
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DR Peak RMS Filename
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DR13 -0.43 dB -15.31 dB 01 Allan Holdsworth - LADO 1- City Nights.wav
DR13 -0.76 dB -16.04 dB 02 Allan Holdsworth - Secrets.wav
DR15 -0.20 dB -20.32 dB 03 Allan Holdsworth - 54 Duncan Terrace (Dedicated To Pat Smythe).wav
DR13 -0.37 dB -16.34 dB 04 Allan Holdsworth - Joshua.wav
DR13 -0.24 dB -15.54 dB 05 Allan Holdsworth - LADO 2- Spokes.wav
DR15 -0.00 dB -17.82 dB 06 Allan Holdsworth - Maid Marion.wav
DR13 -0.87 dB -16.68 dB 07 Allan Holdsworth - Peril Premonition.wav
DR12 -1.39 dB -16.96 dB 08 Allan Holdsworth - Endomorph (Dedicated To My Parents).wav
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Number of files: 8
Official DR value: DR13
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A definitive recording for this player and a well balanced showcase of his other-wordly gifts, 'Secrets' revealed an artist that had evolved beyond even the highest expectations and well past the most accomplished in his arena. Each cut holds a part of the strange alien path Allan Holdsworth takes the listener on, a ride with many turns of jazz style and phrases that seem to have been passed-over by other guitarists. His unstoppable cohorts Jimmy Johnson (bass), Alan Pasqua and Steve Hunt (keys), Vinnie Colaiuta (drums) and an appearance by Chad Wackerman make this an extra special record and Holdsworth's playing is at a creative and tonal high.
'City Nights' is a perfect opener, a tasty hors d'oeuvre that sets the pace. Though sentiment is not always Holdsworth's strongest point, the title cut that follows is a beautiful tone poem of atonality with a nice vocal and lyric by Rowanne Mark. The strange and delightful '54 Duncan Terrace' moves along gingerly and sounds like a rainy day as it drips and drops with new jazz colors and thoughts of times past. The solo platform 'Joshua' shows great pyrotechnics, and 'Spokes' moves well with odd meters. The heart-pumper 'Peril Premonition', however, is the highlight on this record, turning and lurching with unspeakable polycentric circles and pure jazz-rock magic. One of this master's best and among fusion's most impressive moments.
progarchives.com

Artwork By [Design] – Lisa Sutton
Artwork By [Typography] – Jeannine Pinkerton
Bass – Jimmy Johnson (5) (tracks: 1 to 6)
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta (tracks: 1 to 6)
Engineer [Additional] – Biff Vincent, Charlie Watts (2), Dan Humann
Guitar, Mixed By – Allan Holdsworth
Lyrics By – Rowanne Mark (tracks: 2, 8)
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Mixed By – Robert Feist
Music By – Allan Holdsworth (tracks: 2, 3, 5, 8), Chad Wackerman (tracks: 7), Gary Husband (tracks: 1), Steve Hunt (4) (tracks: 4, 6)
Photography – Ed Colver
Producer – Allan Holdsworth
Synthaxe – Allan Holdsworth (tracks: 2, 5, 8)

Label states 'Manufactured in the USA'
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Barcode: 0 1877-73328-1 1
Matrix / Runout (Side A:): SRC 7-73328-1-A-Z2
Matrix / Runout (Side B:): SRC 7-73328-1-b