▄█████▄ ░█████▄ ▄████▄░█▄ ░█▄ ▄█████▄ ███▄██ ▄██ ▄█▄ ▄██████ ▄█▄ ▄███
░████░██▀████▓ ▀██ ▄██░▀█████ ████ ███▓ ██████▓██ ▓███████ ███▓░▀█▀████ ███▓
███▓ ▓███░ ██ ██▄ ▄██▓██ ▓███▓██░ ▓███░███░███████████▄ ███░███░
███░ ▄███ ███ ▄█▀░ ████████░██ █████████▄ ▓██░███ ███▓█████████ ███████
███ ███░ ███████ ███▓ ░██ ██ ██████▓ ░██ ▀██ ███░███▓██████ ███▓███
███ ███ ████████░███░ ███ ██▄ ██▓███░ ██▄ ██░██▓ ███ ▀▀████ ███░███
███ ███ ███▓░███████░ ███ ███▓██ ███ ███▓██▓██░ ███ ▓████ ███ ███
▓██▓ ███ ███░ ▓██████ ███ ▓████ ▓██▄ ▓████████ ███ ▓███ ███ ███
███░███ ███ ░██████ ███ ░████ ░███ ███▓███▓ ███ ░███ ███ ███
██▓███ ███ ███▓██ ███ ███ ▓██▄ ███░███░ ███ ███ ███ ███
░█████ ███ ██▓░██▄ ███ ▓█▀ ▓██▄ ███ ██░ ███ ██▓ ███ ███
░███▀ ░█▀ ██░ ██ ░█▀ ░███▄ ▀ ▀ ▓█▀ ███░ ░█▀ ██▀
██░ ▄██▀ ░█▄ ▄███▀ ░██
░ ██ ▓░ ▓░ ██░
▓█░ ░█▀ ▀█░ ░█▓
░ ██ ██ Artist: Neal Schon ██ ██
▓ █░░ ■█ Album: Vortex █■ ░░█
■ █▓▀ █ Year: 2015 █ ▀▓█ ░
█ ▓ Rel. Date: 2016-01-12 ▓ █
▒ ▒ Genre: Instrumental Rock ▒ ▒
█▄ ░ Label: Music Theories Recordings ░ ▄█
░ █▄ ░ Source: CD ░ ▄█
░ █▓ Type: Album ▓█ ░
▓ █ Quality: VBR, 44.1kHz, Joint Stereo █ ░ ▓
▓ █ █ ░ ▓
▄ ■ ■ ▓ ■
░█ █░ ▀
█ After selling upwards of 80 million albums as a █
█ part of rock titan Journey, guitarist Neal Schon █
█ has released his latest solo offering, Vortex. For █
█ Vortex, a two disc set, Schon was joined in the █
█ studio by keyboardist Igor Len, and fellow █
█ Journeyman, drummer Steve Smith. Schon has the █
█ freedom and the space to explore and stretch out █
█ on his solo works, and Vortex is no exception. █
█ Vortex offers a big, full-band sound from the █
█ outset. Nicely mixed and mastered, the songs do █
█ not bury instruments: dynamics of the songs are █
█ allowed to shine, bringing instruments to the █
█ foreground when needed and allowing them to retire █
█ into the shadows when necessary. That said, this █
█ is definitely a guitar-forward album set, with █
█ almost every song featuring the guitar very █
█ prominently (and with very few breaks). Schon █
█ handled guitar as well as bass guitar duties for █
█ the recording. With many songs over five minutes █
█ and at least one exceeding ten minutes long; this █
█ is not a set of tunes created for the vapid █
█ ôtop40ö radio-ready crowd. Given the length of █
█ time each song remains on the airwaves, the more █
█ comprehensive, deep-listening type of fan is █
█ encouraged. The music is overall fairly relaxed, █
█ with lots of flourishes and passages of █
█ high-energy, high speed guitar. █
█ The set begins with ôMiles Beyondö, a song that █
█ initially presents two competing themes: one being █
█ a very smooth, luxe blues, the other being a █
█ darker, slightly sinister rock. About halfway █
█ through the song, the synth kicks in with more █
█ layers and the ôrockö theme gets louder and much █
█ more distorted. The song builds slowly, gradually █
█ transforming into a slick, richly layered beast █
█ offering a multitude of tones, and plenty of █
█ speed. █
█ ôAwakeningö opens with a swirling undertone and an █
█ acoustic ômoment of clarityö. The casual tempo █
█ allows for a lot of subdivision, an opportunity █
█ Schon doesnÆt pass up in the slightest. Lithe, █
█ progressive fusion ideas mesh near seamlessly with █
█ more laid-back rock backing. Finger-slides, legato █
█ races and a multitude of nicely punctuated, picked █
█ notes dot this soundscape. █
█ ôCuban Fly Zoneö is nicely syncopated, with a █
█ fusion foundation overlaid by a hard rock █
█ overtone. Nicely melodic, itÆs pleasing to the ear █
█ in both an accessible æstandard rock music fanÆ █
█ way, and a more sophisticated æmusoÆ way. Like the █
█ previous tunes, there are lots of opportunities █
█ for Schon to shine. He takes full advantage of █
█ these, to lay into listenersÆ ears with high speed █
█ motifs contrasted to more mellow, sustained spots. █
█ More jazz-infused syncopation greets listenersÆ █
█ ears during the introduction to ôEl Matadorö. █
█ Acoustic guitar accents and layers peek through █
█ the rock fusion at times. This is a shorter song, █
█ managing to develop itÆs ideas in under four █
█ minutes. █
█ Lilting, romantic piano greets us, gently bringing █
█ in ôEternal Loveö, a very short, but very pretty █
█ song. Here, one can appreciate the dynamics █
█ offered by one instrument under skilled hands. █
█ ThereÆs no loud guitar, no pounding rock drums û █
█ just an alluring and nebulous melody, fading in █
█ and out of time. █
█ After such a soft touch, naturally the pace begins █
█ to quicken again, with ôIn A Cloudö. Calm to █
█ start, it features some very ôvocalö sounding █
█ guitar passages, from the masterful use of █
█ effects, layering, and very good engineering. More █
█ straightforward in itÆs rhythm and melodic intent, █
█ this would be considered a mellow rock tune; if █
█ ôIn A Cloudö had lyrics, this might end up a █
█ ballad. █
█ Interesting, nicely articulated, clean notes █
█ penetrate and accent the initial idea for ôIrish █
█ Creamö. This song is one that can take ten listens █
█ to fully digest, with the intricate layering woven █
█ through an equally complex percussion line. ôIrish █
█ Creamö builds very nice momentum and sustains the █
█ excitement. For the most part, the song stays █
█ firmly within upbeat rock fusion territory, but it █
█ does have a very nice, somewhat muted, bluesy █
█ coda. █
█ More laid-back, ôLady M (Our Love Remains)ö starts █
█ out with the promise of possibly becoming a █
█ barn-burning, unhurried rockerà and delivers. In █
█ this song, the bass guitar doesnÆt follow the █
█ lead, so you get to enjoy a fuller, more mature █
█ song them. Trills, flying notes, and a very nicely █
█ espoused melody (complete with what sounds like █
█ Wurlitzer electric piano highlights) keep a fanÆs █
█ attention piqued. █
█ With a title alluding to the fact that this set is █
█ an amalgamation of SchonÆs ninth and tenth studio █
█ albums, the first discÆs final song, ôAirliner █
█ NS910ö starts out æfour on the floorÆ rock. █
█ Mid-tempo, concordant, accessible, and dotted with █
█ both lofty and high-speed quips, the tune is a █
█ suitable ending for what has been an interesting █
█ trip through the foothills of lightly quirky, but █
█ mostly just fun, rock fusion. █
█ The second disc opens with a song title fit for a █
█ metal band, ôTortured Soulsö. What could be a █
█ metal tune turns into a more symphonic, consonant, █
█ relaxed tune, quickly. ItÆs slightly reminiscent █
█ of ôMiles Beyondö. A very nicely orchestrated bass █
█ guitar line provides a solid foundation and a nice █
█ ædeep listenÆ. At over ten minutes long, the song █
█ has a lot of room to grow, and expand, but it █
█ chooses to stick with variations on the fairly █
█ narrow theme developed within the first two █
█ minutes. █
█ The second of three songs to feature his name or █
█ initials in their titles, ôSchon & Hammer Nowö █
█ starts out with a quick-grab, dirty hard rock █
█ leaning. Friend and collaborator, keyboardist Jan █
█ Hammer guests on this track. Listen to how the █
█ first idea expansion sounds like a vocalist could █
█ æscatÆ over it in the live concert setting for █
█ even more excitement. Like a conversation, this █
█ song digresses from itÆs original idea into █
█ something marginally different, but still along █
█ the same vein. █
█ ôNS Vortexö collectedly slides in, offering a very █
█ creamy, melodic passage to ease listeners into the █
█ tune. ThatÆs the eye of the storm: an overcast █
█ theme sneaks in, restrained by using less █
█ distortion then say, for traditional metal. It █
█ only gets heavier from there. DonÆt let those █
█ smooth, high pitch fusion overlays fool the ear: █
█ the song remains dark, engaging, and vaguely █
█ twisted. Featuring several drum solos, and some of █
█ SmithÆs more aggressive percussion work, this tune █
█ is modern hard jazz flavored at times. █
█ At 1:55, ôUnspoken Faithö is a short, sweet song █
█ sans percussion; a highly melodic, soaring dwarf █
█ set among behemoths. █
█ ôTwilight å Spellboundö starts with a funky beat █
█ and a mild fusion motif. After about a minute, it █
█ switches to a darker, much more hard rock sound. █
█ Another meander and itÆs working through some █
█ slower rock with a blistering lead overlay. The █
█ song is an idea conglomerate, challenging a █
█ listener to keep pace with itÆs moderately █
█ fleeting tangents. There is a brief spoken-word █
█ sample passage, which refers to the NS Vortex, █
█ near the end. The pitch swoops downwards as the █
█ song fades out. █
█ Cinematic, atmospheric, deep notes greet █
█ listenersÆ ears to start ôTriumph Of Loveö. Almost █
█ a æmarchingÆ or æmilitaryÆ theme predominates in █
█ these first few precious seconds, but thatÆs just █
█ the introduction. The song features more of the █
█ soaring, emotionally charged notes that mark some █
█ of the other placid tunes in the set. Sensibly, █
█ the introductory theme does recur twice throughout █
█ the song, with the second reprise giving way to an █
█ odd shift: a fluid, modern fusion lick. Melodic, █
█ varied, and enjoyable, this is a pleasant song. █
█ ôMomö is up next. Confident acoustic guitar layers █
█ present a pretty melody. Like ôEternal Loveö, this █
█ is a short, lovely, single-instrument song without █
█ percussion; offering a simultaneously █
█ palate-cleansing and uplifting listening █
█ experience. █
█ Hints of rock start ôTalk To Meö off on the █
█ positive. Another longer song, this offers heaps █
█ of room to muscle around a lot of notes. As far as █
█ rock goes, this is more of the sweet-sounding █
█ touch then the brow-beating heaviness. With █
█ flavors of high-speed guitar interspersed, the █
█ tune explores a few different themes, switching █
█ gears halfway through. As a treat for metal fans, █
█ thereÆs even some double-bass drum action and █
█ nicely crunchy guitar work near the end. █
█ The final tune in the set, ôWhite Lightö, starts █
█ off with some beautiful and richly melodic notes █
█ and chords on acoustic guitar, backed by synth. It █
█ sounds like this might be another exploration, █
█ primarily written to express the range and dynamic █
█ of a single instrument. A breath of fresh air to █
█ close the set, this short and gorgeous song is █
█ like sitting in a sunny meadow in the springtime. █
█ This is definitely a guitar-forward set of songs, █
█ created to release SchonÆs playing pleasures, and █
█ for fans of ôguitar friendlyö music. The only █
█ critique would be that some listeners like ômusic █
█ with singingö, and eschew instrumental albums. █
█ Those potential fans are really going to miss out █
█ by passing this by. For someone looking to check █
█ out some generally higher-speed, upbeat, muscular █
█ rock fusion with accents and elements of Latin, █
█ jazz, folk, and even metal, Neal SchonÆs Vortex █
█ will hit the target. To dive in, this is a lengthy █
█ listen, requiring a larger time commitment. The █
█ all instrumental, 18-song set is mostly █
█ dyed-in-the-wool rock; far more complex then █
█ JourneyÆs radio-rock arrangements. For fans of █
█ well-performed instrumental guitar, or less █
█ æmoodyÆ rock fans in general, SchonÆs latest solo █
█ material does not disappoint in the slighest. █
▓ ▓
▒ ▒
░ CD 1/2 : ░
░ 1. Miles Beyond 6:54 ░
░ 2. Awakening 5:22 ░
░ 3. Cuban Fly Zone 4:44 ░
░ 4. El Matador 3:51 ░
░ 5. Eternal Love 2:20 ░
░ 6. In A Cloud 4:56 ░
░ 7. Irish Cream 5:49 ░
░ 8. Lady M (Our Love Remains) 4:53 ░
░ 9. Airliner NS910 5:43 ░
░ CD 2/2 : ░
░ 1. Tortured Souls 10:19 ░
░ 2. Schon & Hammer Now 7:10 ░
░ 3. NS Vortex 8:15 ░
░ 4. Unspoken Faith 1:55 ░
░ 5. Twilight - Spellbound 5:30 ░
░ 6. Triumph of Love 6:30 ░
░ 7. Mom 1:36 ░
░ 8. Talk to Me 8:26 ░
░ 9. White Light 2:46 ░
░ 96:59 ░
░ ▒ ▒
▓ █ ░ ▓ ░
■ █▄ ░ ██
▀█▄░ ▄▄▄▄▄ ▓ ░ ▄▄▄▄▄ ░▄██░ ░
▀████▓█▄▄█████████▓░ ███ ███▓░ █████████▄▄██████▀ ▓
▓▀▓ ▒███████▀▀ ▀████████▒ ░████████▀ ▀▀███████░▓▀▓ ■
░ ▄█░█▀▀▄████▄▓ ▀█▀ █▓░ ▒▓█ ▀█▀ ▄████▄ ▀███▄░
▄█▀░ ░███▀▀▀███▄ ▀█▒ ██▓ ██ ▓█▀ ▄███▀▀▀███░ ▀█░
█▀ ▓██▓ ▄███ ▀█▓ ████ ▒█▀ ▓███▄ ▓██▓ ▀█▓
█▀ ▓██░ ▒██████▓ ▀█ █▓ █▀ ▓██████▒ ░██▓ ▀█
▒ ▄██ ░███ ▓███▓ ▀░██░▀ ▓███░ ███ ██▄ ▒
░█▀ ███ ▄▀ ███▄ ▓████▒ ▄███▀▄ ███ ▀█░
▓█▀ ▄██▄█▀ ░ ██████████████ ▀█▄ ██▄ ▀█▓
█▀ ████▀█▄▓░▄█ ▀██████▀ █▄▓░▄█▀█▄██ ▀█▓
░ ▄ ██▀ ▀████▀ ▀█▓▀██ ▀████▀ ▀███ ▄ ▒
█░█▓ ██░ █░ █ ░██ ▀██▒█
███░ ▒█░ ▄ ▓ ▒ ░█▒ ▓███ ░
▓██ ░ ██▓
██░ ░██
█▒ ░ ░█
▀█ █▀
▓ ░
░