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Thread: Steve Howe Guitarscape

  1. #1
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    Steve Howe Guitarscape

    Steve has a new solo album coming out in September. He truly is a on a prolific creative roll lately.

    Howe is joined on the album by son Dylan on drums, while Howe himself handles acoustic, electric, steel and bass guitars along with keyboards as well as writing all the material and producing. In keeping with the album title, the album pretty much represents a guitar masterclass from Howe.

    "This album has given me the opportunity to do something different,” says Howe. "I bought a Novatron Summit keyboard and found that it had a wealth of inspiring sounds. It gave me a golden opportunity to create my own keyboard structures – chordal movements and structures that I thought were a bit different. I think differently on a keyboard, I don’t see the chords looking the same but then I had fun playing around with the guitar to see where that goes.

    "I’ve utilised most of the colours, as I like to I think of my styles, and I’m always pleased when I hear them running through and it moves from a steel, maybe, to a Spanish guitar. Because it’s a different sort of album, I’m not using terribly conventional chord sequences but things that give me a fresh feeling and opportunities to improvise and stretch out as well as be melodic and make this a nice tuneful experience.

    “I began feeding the tracks to Dylan. We get on great and he seems to know what to play around my guitar, it’s almost instinctive. Dylan and I fit together really beautifully. We’ve had the chance to do this together, so it’s wonderful.

    “The bass parts and the keyboards are pretty interesting, everything had to be interesting but also work together. I like doing things that are super fresh and this album says what I am today."




    Track Listing:
    1. Hail Storm
    2. Spring Board
    3. Distillations
    4. Up Stream
    5. Secret Mission
    6. Passing Thoughts
    7. Touch The Surface
    8. Spring Rhyme
    9. Equinox
    10. Seesaw
    11. Gone West
    12. Suma
    13. Spring Tide
    14. Steel Breeze

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    Great news, looking forward to hearing it.

  3. #3
    Nice! I do enjoy a lot of Steve’s solo stuff.

  4. #4
    cunning linguist 3LockBox's Avatar
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    He has a son named Virgil, doesn't he?

  5. #5
    Jazzbo manqué Mister Triscuits's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 3LockBox View Post
    He has a son named Virgil, doesn't he?
    Virgil passed away in 2017.
    Hurtleturtled Out of Heaven - an electronic music composition, on CD and vinyl
    https://michaelpdawson.bandcamp.com
    http://www.waysidemusic.com/Music-Pr...MCD-spc-7.aspx

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    Interesting new interview with Steve where he talks quite a bit about Guitarscape, but then fields some interesting questions about some prior Yes records:

    Heaven & Earth - Steve talks about working with Roy Thomas Baker (again) and kind of how it didn’t quite work.
    Open Your Eyes - Steve talks about how it was mostly a complete Conspiracy project and he and Jon A had challenges making their contributions.
    Magnifiication - Steve talks about how the album cover is the way it is because his “dear friend Jon” didn’t want Roger Dean to do it. He also talks about how he has a mix of the record without the orchestra and hints that Mercury, who apparently has rights to it now, are working on something with that album.
    New Yes Record - They are writing for it.

    He also discusses the “what if” he had joined the Stones and gives his thoughts on John Mayall.


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    It's a good interview, and Steve is in good humour as is usually the case these days. I will need to hear the album before I buy it though.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Steve983 View Post
    It's a good interview, and Steve is in good humour as is usually the case these days. I will need to hear the album before I buy it though.
    This was a great interview! I must admit that I’m not sure why Steve thinks the Magnifcation cover is so bad? Sure it’s not a Dean masterpiece but I like the space theme and the smaller clear Yes logo which is classic Dean.

    Interesting as well that it sounds like it was Chris who had the final word on working with RTB again for Heaven and Earth.

    Looking forward to the new Howe solo album.

  9. #9
    Steve Howe's new solo album, "Guitarscape," will be released on September 27th, 2024. The album features 14 new instrumental tracks, all written and produced by Howe, who handles acoustic, electric, steel and bass guitars, keyboards, and production. His son Dylan joins him on drums. The album is available for preorder now.

  10. #10
    Member Sputnik's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by davidblack View Post
    Steve Howe's new solo album, "Guitarscape," will be released on September 27th, 2024. The album features 14 new instrumental tracks, all written and produced by Howe, who handles acoustic, electric, steel and bass guitars, keyboards, and production. His son Dylan joins him on drums. The album is available for preorder now.
    All instrumental is encouraging. I'm waiting to hear samples of the album before buying, but I'm interested.

    Bill

  11. #11
    Member Guitarplyrjvb's Avatar
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    Howe is my favorite guitarist, but I've not really liked his solo material. Turbulence is probably my favorite. I'd approach this very warily, although the lack of vocals is a plus. Dude is very busy in his later years.

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    Member Mr.Krautman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Guitarplyrjvb View Post
    Howe is my favorite guitarist, but I've not really liked his solo material. Turbulence is probably my favorite. I'd approach this very warily, although the lack of vocals is a plus. Dude is very busy in his later years.
    Same for me. None of his solo records ever "clicked" with me.
    But here he seemingly took a different approach to create his latest work, which could be interesting.
    And "all instrumental" is always a plus point in my books.
    No pre-order but I'll stay tuned on this...

  13. #13
    Member Koreabruce's Avatar
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    Yeah, Turbulence is the one I gravitate toward because it's instrumental, and the writing is solid. Bill Bruford is on it, too. The runner up in my view is The Steve Howe Album. There's only one vocal track, so it's easy to skip, but the rest is an eclectic mix of styles that still plays well today.

  14. #14
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    Anyone pick this up yet? I am finding a few on here that I quite enjoy:






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    I had a listen on YT but not keen to be honest. I didn't like his last one either which is a shame because I have almost all of his solo albums.

  16. #16
    I’m surprised how often Turbulence is mentioned, but not Quantum Guitar. In my opinion, the latter follows the same template as the former, but with better results.

  17. #17
    Member Koreabruce's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by yesstiles View Post
    I’m surprised how often Turbulence is mentioned, but not Quantum Guitar. In my opinion, the latter follows the same template as the former, but with better results.
    Generally true, but it's the presence of those vocal tracks that probably turns people off.

  18. #18
    Member Sputnik's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by yesstiles View Post
    I’m surprised how often Turbulence is mentioned, but not Quantum Guitar. In my opinion, the latter follows the same template as the former, but with better results.
    I didn't think the musical ideas on that album were all that fantastic, and the vocal tracks just killed it for me. For me, Turbulence is just great from start to finish and I was seriously disappointed with Quantum Guitar when it came out. YMMV, but that's my take.

    From what I've heard of this new one, it's a definite pass for me. The samples posted above are just super dull to my ears. Again, YMMV.

    Bill

  19. #19
    Quote Originally Posted by Sputnik View Post
    I didn't think the musical ideas on that album were all that fantastic, and the vocal tracks just killed it for me. For me, Turbulence is just great from start to finish and I was seriously disappointed with Quantum Guitar when it came out. YMMV, but that's my take.
    Quantum Guitar didn't have any vocal tracks.

  20. #20
    Member Koreabruce's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by GuitarGeek View Post
    Quantum Guitar didn't have any vocal tracks.
    I stand corrected. I had confused that one with The Grand Scheme of Things. Sorry about that!

  21. #21
    Member Sputnik's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Koreabruce View Post
    I stand corrected. I had confused that one with The Grand Scheme of Things. Sorry about that!
    Yes, I also made that mistake. It was Grand Scheme that I didn't like. I'll give Quantum Guitar a fresh listen.

    Bill

    Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

  22. #22
    Oh gosh yes, please don’t confuse Quantum Guitar with The Grand Scheme of Things. I couldn’t stand The Grand Scheme of Things. But Quantum Guitar was fantastic.

  23. #23
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    Re: The Grand Scheme of Things....yeah, not great, however I always have had an affinity for this one, "Reaching the Point". Vocals are not a strong suit, but boy I really dig this one song.


  24. #24
    Member Guitarplyrjvb's Avatar
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    Whooo boy..... why Steve Howe ever allowed himself to "sing" on his records is beyond me. Didn't anyone at the record company have the balls to tell him no, please God, no!?

  25. #25
    Quote Originally Posted by Dan Roth View Post
    Re: The Grand Scheme of Things....yeah, not great, however I always have had an affinity for this one, "Reaching the Point". Vocals are not a strong suit, but boy I really dig this one song.

    Maybe try using this site to remove vocals https://multimedia.easeus.com/vocal-remover/

    Maybe I will use my "magic" and add Wetton's vocals to a song or two with the same lyrics and see if anything interesting sounding comes out.

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