Reviewing an instrumental album is rather like the England football manager’s job: a poisoned chalice. You can’t win. These guys who specialise in instrumental albums have a niche market all to themselves and a hardcore following to boot. Therefore any attempt at an objective review, that isn’t all out praise for said muso’s prowess, will be met with suspicion and scorn. How do I know? I had the misfortune to review Billy Sheehan’s dire ‘Cosmic Troubadour’ CD this time last year. 

So did I have any better luck with Satch’s (as his fans like to call him) ‘Super Colossal’. Well I’m glad to say that I did…to a point. Without stating the obvious Satriani’s a guitar genius. Yes, nothing new there. But I’m pleased to report that on this album he has consciously slowed his playing down to almost ‘Santana-esque’ levels of tastefulness. 

The songs are well structured (important when there are no vocals) and the widdly-widdly is kept to a minimum. He even sounds like Billy Gibbons on one occasion. And I can’t say fairer than that! However there are still too many ‘rockschool’ jazzy moments that remind me uncomfortably of those awful demo workshops when some famous session muso is showing how some new piece of gear performs. Come to think of it said audience at these events (and yes I have been to the odd one) is exactly the same crowd who will lap this up. 

Nothing wrong with that. And nothing wrong with stunning musicianship. Which this is. But Satch is still far too indulgent for many rocker’s tastes and some of these instrumental pieces just wind on aimlessly. When things are short and concise this album is a joy to listen to however. I played it in the car and it was the perfect antidote when all I wanted to listen to was something gentle and tasteful. Just pick out the tracks you like best. 

My favourite is final track ‘Crowd Chant’ where Satch shows he really does have a sense of humour by playing, quite literally, to a crowd in the studio. So as he produces an astonishing array of squeaks and squeals from of his trusty Ibanez a crowd of p**sed up macho sounding roadcrew members attempt to copy what they’ve just heard. It’s genuinely hilarious as Satch gets more and more random with his playing and the hapless studio crew end up all over the place. There’s also a bizarre ‘Wagnerian’ section that just might be having a go at ‘you know who’. But I could be wrong!    

As you can see I had mixed feelings about this album. Satriani does produce moments of brilliance on ‘Super Colossal’. Has sold over 10 millions albums worldwide, in a twenty year career. And continues to put bums on seats with his tours. So he must be doing something right! Yet for all that the indulgent parts of this CD left me cold. However do try and listen to ‘Crowd Chant’ as it’s genuinely funny.

Let us know your views on 'Super Colossal'

Track List

Super Colossal
Just Like Lightnin'
It's So Good
Redshift Raiders
Ten Words
Cool New Way
One Robot's Dream
Meaning Of Love
Made Of Tears
Theme For A Strange World
Movin' On
Love Eternal
Crowd Chant