By: Barry Cleveland
l Garcia plays acoustic and electric guitars, guitar synthesizer, bass, hand
percussion, and even some trap drums on this self-recorded and produced album. The
music falls squarely into the jazz-rock-fusion category, with obvious Allan
Holdsworth and Jeff Berlin influences throughout. But, while Garcia clearly displays
the requisite chops for the genre, the compositions are what elevate this disc above
the all-too-common fusion wankfest. Most of the pieces have a joyous and buoyant
feel despite their harmonic complexity, and the upbeat melodies and Latin rhythmic
touches offer accessibility beyond the usual fusion fare. I could have done without
the overly cutesy electronic bombast of "The Pleasures of Progress," but otherwise,
this is a great record, featuring beautiful guitar tones and often-breathtaking
playing from beginning to end.
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