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| Steve Booke "Rare Earth": Independent Review
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Steve Booke
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Review of "Rare Earth"
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ot since Rich Stein have I heard such local mastery of the acoustic guitar. Drawing heavy influences from Jimmy Page and Michael Hedges, "Rare Earth" is a rare jem of acoustic brilliance. Steve collaborates with drummer/percussionist David Penna on a soundscape of cascading bliss. To the semi-educated ear one can see that Steve is a formalist, incorporating many influences and styles in a ratatouille that is both refreshing and original. Though at times somber, morbid and melancholy, Steve and partner in recording and collaborating David Penna have produced a provocative and intriguing twelve song CD which runs well over an hour. Although it comes close it never really reaches the pyrotechnics of Vai, Satriani or Johnson, but it's good, Damn good. Then again "Rare Earth", is also all acoustic-"Rare Earth" should be a staple in any guitar student's CD collection, and a staple to the aspiring acoustic performer. More than anything else which really impressed me about Steve Booke's debut CD is his adroit prowess and knowledge through implementation of classical phrasings, and the balls to go astray. With baroque moderation, restraint and formality on an otherwise bluesy-middle eastern offering, "Rare Earth" is an album to buy and keep.
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Long Island Entertainment
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