Mike Slamer has long been a personnel favourite of mine when it comes to guitar players, arguably the most underrated guitarist ever in fact. He should be regarded in the same league as Satranii and Vai et al IMHO. Since first hearing his guitar playing on the second Streets album, 'Crimes In Mind', I’ve managed to collect nearly all of his recordings with the exception of the City Boy material.

Slamer, after leaving Streets, became a top flight session guitarist/producer and songwriter, writing material with and for the likes of House of lords, Wall Of Silence and James Christian amongst others and playing on the first two Warrant albums. Slamer also released two albums under the Steelhouse lane banner the first of which, 'Metallic Blue,' contained reworkings of songs written for other artists, inparticular 'Dr. Love', a track made famous by Hardline. The seeds of Slamer's latest output however were sown last year with the release of Seventh Key's 'Live In Atlanta' opus which saw band mainmen Slamer and Billy Greer joined for the occasion by the former Strangeways vocalist Terry Brock.

I must admit to expecting a big rock record with this release and so was thus a bit disappointed on first listen.  Although there are some great rockers on the album it  comes over a bit undecided on first listen. However I should know by now that Slamer does not record shite. So, after several more listens, this album has fast become my album of the year so far. It is, in fact, a collection of excellent atmospheric songs and wonderful guitar playing, complete with progressive elements all capped off with Terry Brock's original and thought provoking lyrics - well I’m assuming that they are Brock's lyrics as the promo has no song writing credits, although I do know that Billy Greer had a hand in some of the material. 

The album opens with the title track, atmospheric sound effects giving way to a massive intro that in my mind forms pictures of horses riding over desert sands (or I’m just going around the twist?) Lyrically thought provoking, the song deals with the fact that the country is becoming a "nowhere land" where no personnel secret is safe. Second song, 'Strength To Carry On' , sees a complete change of pace, a beautiful ballad with some of the most tasteful guitar playing I’ve heard. And then we come to sort of song I was expecting from this CD. 'Not In Love' features an extended guitar based intro that shows the likes of Satrinani, Vai and Schon just how to do it and then lyrics kick in and the song is taken to another level. Very much In the Steelhouse Lane style.

'Come To Me' is another great atmospheric track (count the number of times I use that word in this review) that starts off with simple keyboards, drums and acoustic guitar, before building through the inclusion of some massed vocals and the excellent solo. 'Higher Ground' is another great rocker with a riff that is reminiscent of The Tygers Of Pan Tang's version of 'Love Potion No. 9. The lyrics once again prove to be rather deep and initially I thought that were based on Robert A. Heinlein Starship Troopers. However with hindsight the song deals with the situation a marine finds himself in whilst stationed in Iraq.

'Jaded' is simply a track I love. A great little intro riff is repeated throughout the song giving a progressive feel to the arrangement and once again the lyrics prove excellent. A song made for this point on the album or mid way through a live set. Another slow burner of a number is 'Beyond The Pale' starting off very simply and then building and building, a wonderful atmospheric (there's that word again) song that brings to mind Pink Floyd in all of their pomp. Actually the following number, 'Runaway', could almost the the second part of 'Beyond The Pale' such is its style and yes, yet more sublime guitar work from Slamer ensues.

If the last couple of numbers had been mid-paced, 'Audio Illusion' is a kick up the backside  with a riff that reminds one of Van Hagar’s 'Best Of Both Worlds'. This time the lyrics are all about a manufactured pop star, listen and think! I’m certain that both Brock and Slamer have experienced this from the other side dwith their day jobs as session musicians. 'Perfect Circle' is another rocker that could have been lifted from either of the Seventh Key albums. The riff is clever little thing as well which I guarantee you will humming at the most awkward moments. Finally closing out the CD is 'Superstar', the heaviest track on the album and rounding the album off brilliantly. 

To sum up, with 'Nowhere Land' Slamer has produced a “solo” album that show’s other wannabe guitar heroes how it should be done. How to record an album that is both musically interesting and has enough guitar excess to make other players look up and take note. Then add in to the equation the fact the songs can all be sung along too, have intelligent lyrics and melodies many would kill for.  A difficult feat achieved, a guitarist solo album that is also a good song based  album.

Let us know your views on 'Nowhere Land''

Track List

Nowhere Land
Strength To Carry On
Not In Love
Come To Me
Higher Ground
Jaded
Beyond the Pale
Runaway
Audio Illusion
Perfect Circle
Superstar

Line Up

Terry Brock - Vocals
Mike Slamer - Guitars/Keyboards
Chet Wynd - Drums