Oceana
Music Theories Recordings
Release date: Monday 5th September 2011
If I asked you to get a notepad and write down a few of the most respected rock musicians in the business to go and make an instrumental rock album with, who would you choose? How about guitars - Steve Lukather? Joe Bonamassa? Doug Aldrich? Steve Stevens and Tony MacAlpine maybe? Basses Jimmy Johnson, Tony Franklin..? And how about one of the world's best drummers to provide the backbeats? I reckon Simon Philips could be a good choice. With the release of Oceana on 5th September 2011, Derek Sherinian rock keyboard virtuoso has done just that.
You'll probably know of Derek Sherinian. He played with Alice Cooper, helped out Kiss and then became a mainstay of Dream Theatre between 1994 and 1999. Between 2000 and 2009 he was busy releasing critically acclaimed albums including Inertia and Molecular Heinosity and touring in 2010 with Billy Idol. Lately you'll probably have heard of one of rock's best super groups Black Country Communion, of which Derek is one full quarter.
This is a very strong collection of rock and rock - fusion collaborations. All tracks were written by Sherinian and for the most part Simon Philips who produced the collection and also features throughout on sticks. The pair spar beautifully in the opener Five Elements interweaving with Tony MacAlpine's guitar. Steve Lukather's instantly recognisable style of playing comes to the fore on track three Mullholland, with a rolling bassline throughout from Johnson. A tasty number it is too.
The gears change down a little on Euphoria with Lukather underpinned once more by Johnson and Phillips, thundering back again into top shift driven by Steve Stevens on Ghost Runner. This is a real headbanging cut if ever I heard one. I love it! I've liked Stevens' work ever since I heard Flamengo A Go-Go and it's great to see him working on a major release in the company of the best.
This is a very strong collection of rock and rock - fusion collaborations. All tracks were written by Sherinian and for the most part Simon Philips who produced the collection and also features throughout on sticks. The pair spar beautifully in the opener Five Elements interweaving with Tony MacAlpine's guitar. Steve Lukather's instantly recognisable style of playing comes to the fore on track three Mullholland, with a rolling bassline throughout from Johnson. A tasty number it is too.
The gears change down a little on Euphoria with Lukather underpinned once more by Johnson and Phillips, thundering back again into top shift driven by Steve Stevens on Ghost Runner. This is a real headbanging cut if ever I heard one. I love it! I've liked Stevens' work ever since I heard Flamengo A Go-Go and it's great to see him working on a major release in the company of the best.
Image credit: Rick Gold
There's a little bit of boogie on El Camino Diablo with Doug Aldrich playing splendidly and Sherinian soloing majestically in a number that really grooves along nicely. Joe Bonamassa's appearance on the album is very welcome. I love his ability to nail anything and here on I Heard That Joe gives the album one of it's highlights. This is another track with a very strong groove to it.
The last two tracks on the record showcase Lukather on Seven Sins and Stevens rounds off the album perfectly with the slower title track. Another huge wall of slick guitar work on his second contribution to the album.
An instrumental rock album is something of a rarity these days and this one will prove to be a real gem.
The last two tracks on the record showcase Lukather on Seven Sins and Stevens rounds off the album perfectly with the slower title track. Another huge wall of slick guitar work on his second contribution to the album.
An instrumental rock album is something of a rarity these days and this one will prove to be a real gem.
Rob Pope
Guitarist TV
Derek Sherinian official website
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