JOE SATRIANI: Professor Satchafunkilus And The Musterion Of Rock (GUITAR HERO): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

"Professor Satchafunkilus And The Musterion Of Rock" is the slightly complicated name of the brand new album of one of the guitar legends, namely Joe Satriani. It is already the eleventh opus of the man who started his career in the mid-80s and who quickly revealed himself to the general public with great records like "Surfing With The Alien" (1987) or "Flying In A Blue Dream" (1989).

With his music, Satriani has managed the tour de force of bringing essentially instrumental pieces to the forefront, picking up on all musical genres. Hard rock of course, but also ballads, boogie rock and even recently electronic music. He has been releasing a series of new albums almost every two years. Even if the creativity and the surprise of the early days have faded away, he continues to be unanimously acclaimed by fans of instrumental music.

With this new album, Satriani and her band remain in the same musical horizons as on their last albums, leaving electronics aside. While keeping this accessible side which makes the charm of the music, Satriani creates above all melodies, and not only pure instrumental music made for guitarists. Although he composes all the tracks, plays the guitar, piano and bass parts, he still has with him the excellent Greg Bissonette on bass and Jeff Campitelli on drums.

This new album can be discovered with a lot of pleasure despite the fact that it is less accessible than its predecessor. Indeed, some tracks only reveal themselves slowly while others immediately ring in the listener's ear.

Among the unstoppable tracks, we will retain the entrance track "Musterion" and its slightly spatial intro which precedes a strange but gripping part before a very inspired passage, not too technical but full of feeling where Satriani releases some superb shots for an overall result of great quality. Then, "I Just Wanna Rock" comes out and proves to be a simple and efficient track, very rock in the spirit of AC/DC with surprising and quite electronic vocal parts that remind a bit of Daft Punk. No doubt that this track will be a hit live.

Still unstoppables, we'll keep the last two tracks, "Asik Vaysel" and "Andalusia". The first song starts with a luminous tapping intro before getting carried away in a much heavier part where an avalanche of notes scroll by, well supported by a highlighted bass before an ultra technical solo. This is surely the track where Satriani lets loose the most guitar level ... The second track that closes the album is a little gem that takes us to Spain with local sounds supported by a superb acoustic guitar. In its second part, the title goes towards a very rock style, well rhythmed and inspired, with a very complex finale.

The other songs are unfortunately more classicals. "Revelation" is a small ballad starting quietly with a very soft riff, allowing a first rather dynamic solo to blossom. "Come On Baby", which is not a rock'n'roll track as its title might have led you to think, asserts itself as a very nice bluesy ballad. It begins with a piano guitar duet of the best effect with a very pleasant jazzy aspect. Let's forget "Out Of The Sunrise", tiresome and repetitive, which never really takes off despite a reggae break that is far too short.

In conclusion, Joe Satriani signs there a very good album, even if the magic which surrounded his beginnings tends to disappear with time. The man always offers inspired compositions without ever falling into ease or technical overkill. This "Professor..." should therefore delight his fans and instrumental music novices wishing to make a smooth entry into his world, so much the melodic aspect is preponderant on this record... - Official website

JOE SATRIANI

PROFESSOR SATCHAFUNKILUS AND THE MUSTERION OF ROCK

SONY BMG

GUITAR HERO