If you look up the word eclectic in the dictionary I would be fairly certain that in the latter parts of the words description it would state "see the music of Devin Townsend" I have to be honest that my only previous brush with the man Townsend was when he was providing vocals on Steve Vai's "Sex & Religion" opus but a quick browse around the interweb and it transpires that he's been keeping himself busy with both solo and band efforts in the intervening 13 years (this is the seventh in total).

This eclecticism is best demonstrated by the opening and closing tracks, "Let It Roll" starts with a simple acoustic backing (based on a traditional scottish folk song) and transforms gently into an epic slow rock number   whilst  "Untitled" is rootsy boogie hard rock in the finest traditions of Georgia Satellites or Aerosmith and the record covers everything else in-between!!

Each track is so different and Devin Townsend employs such different vocal styles throughout that you begin to wonder that it all comes mainly from the imagination of one man, he really has a complete range going on here, soft acoustic balladeering through to death metal growls and grunts, the man has it all!! Of course aficionados of Townsend cohort Steve Vai's work will be familiar with this kind of mixed bag and it may come as no surprise that some of the guitar tones and compositional ideas seem to emulate the seven string maestros best work.

The main problem that a wider audience may have is that there is too much disparity on offer and little that threads the whole together. Not that the album seems disjointed as such but there really is a whole melting pot of ideas on offer ("Vampolka" really is a polka led tune!!) and whilst it makes for difficult, concentrated, listening. Its still excellently played and composed stuff however and fans of Vai, Satriani, Zappa and QOTSA (like me!) will find much to appreciate here.

Let us know your views on 'Synchestra'

Track List

Let It Roll
Hypergeek
Triumph
Baby Song
Vampolka
Vampira
Mental Tan
Gaia
Pixillate
Judgement
Simple Lullaby
Sunset
Notes From Africa
Sunshine And Happiness