Joe Satriani "Strange Beautiful Music"

The Satch-man cometh with his eighth album, "Strange Beautiful Music", a CD whose compositions were inspired by the guitarist's new found freedom in his new, well-appointed home studio, offering him unprecedented avenues of expression and discovery. Songs such as "Seven String" represent Satriani's brute-force side of playing, whereas "New Last Jam" finds the guitarist using odd tunings to push the creative envelope. The opening cut, "Oriental Melody", features Satriani's bluesy lines over an in-your-face, '70s-era production. "You Saved My Life" features four guitars playing an ensemble melody, but with spontaneity and elements of improvisation, while "You Saved My Life" and "Starry Night" are very heartfelt and passionate. Interestingly, Satch's cover of "Sleep Walk" features a contribution by guitarist Robert Fripp.