Review of Joe Satriani - Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards

Today in the UK Epic Records release the 14th studio album of Joe Satriani -  the highly anticipated Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards the follow up to  2008's Professor Satchafunkilus opus. The first cd Joe has released since he became a member of a rock band Chickenfoot.

Joining Joe on the cd are Jeff Campitelli on drums, Allen Whitman on bass and Mike Keneally on keyboards and again using Mike Fraser as producer.  This is a cd that grows with each listen. Each time you hear new things on one of the most diverse cd's Joe has ever put out.

It has a very live feel with the band putting in a truly stunning back up to Joe's fretboard pyrotechnics with some amazing melodic playing too.

First song Premonition kicks the album off in great style with a classic Satriani riff over a great backbeat that will go down a storm live.

Dream Song track 2 again has a very melodic riff and great backbeat and could be classed as a rock ballad.

Track 3 Pyrrhic Victoria is truly stunning.Heavy riff and heavy rhythm groove with a big melodic chorus and then a truly magnificent ferocious solo from the 2'28'' mark.

Track 4 is the first single Light Years Away has a keyboard intro that again has a big riff and the whole song builds up to the end.Classic Joe!!

Track 5 Solitude is the the brief acoustic interlude to the next song Littleworth Lane.This is a classic blues track with a Hammond B3 playing the melody.A gospel tinged song with some great slow picking.No guitar histionics needed on this.

Next up The Golden Room with its eastern flavoured melodies leads into Two Sides To Every Story and a very melodic jazzy funky number continues the diverse feel of the cd.

Wormhole Wizards takes us back with again a classic Joe riff over a brilliant bass line and drums.Top marks to the band which allows Joe to solo over.

Wind In The Trees is a very trippy rythmic slow building song with a keyboard ending that surely is a first for a Joe Satriani cd?

Last song God Is Crying is a perfect way to finish the cd a big anthemic number that shows off Joe's skills to the fore. Brilliant.

So a truly great cd that will continue to throw up delights as the nights now draw in towards winter.

Joe's UK tour kicks off in 2 weeks and it will be great to see how the new songs fit in and also how they develop in a live setting.

ME