After almost two decades of recording music, Steve Stevens has tried it all. Having played guitar with well-known acts like the Thompson Twins, Michael Jackson, and his claim to fame Billy Idol, this rock veteran has had volumes of experience with the electric guitar. Now Stevens, who has also toured with Vince Neil of Motley Crue, is experimenting with a whole new genre of music.
This different style of playing is flamenco, and Stevens seems to have mastered it quite nicely. His latest album, Flamenco.a.go.go, is proof of this. An exquisite mixture of acoustic guitars and digital music, this album is a vital addition to any guitar player’s CD collection. Not only does Stevens perform beautiful, flowing roots music like in the song “Cinecita", but also found on Flamenco.a.go.go is a show of Steve’s amazing talent with rapid picking and (for all you guitar buffs) breathtaking left-hand ability.
Amazingly, all the playing on this album is done on just a nylon-stringed guitar. Stevens has said that flamenco music, being so rich in rhythm, seems to fit naturally with digital music and “electronics and ambient sounds and things." The first track on the album is a prime example of this combination. And the two seemingly different types of music do prove to flow together very nicely.
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Those who have this album in disk format will enjoy a CDROM feature which allows the user to hear all the music on the album, access Steve’s website, read a bio on the artist, and view a stunning, nearly 7 minute video clip of one of Stevens’s performances. Again, guitar players and also those who merely appreciate talent will no doubt be impressed and at the same time mystified by the sheer speed and dynamic playing seen and heard on this lengthy clip.
As a performer, studio musician, and as an artist, Steve Stevens would certainly rank very highly in the expanding world of music. Those who seek tasteful style and thrilling dynamics will find Flamenco.a.go.go to be quite a treat.
Betsy MacDonald CanEHdian.com, 2000
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