Sonic Undertow

Sonic Undertow, the brainchild of keyboard player and composer Chris Hoard, has been described as "a surprising blend of prog and hip-hop", but only two tracks ("Time To Move On" and "Free Da Radicals") have rap vocals. The rest of the CD, apart from a few spoken word introductions by poet Ekow Asare, is an instrumental blend of fusion, exotic fusion and progressive rock with a few urban rhythms thrown in here and there for a more modern feel. Guitar fans will rejoice at the inclusion of Allan Holdsworth's six string improvisations on eight of the tracks, as he lays out legato lines in his own indomitable style. Hoard states, "The planet's only musician I considered capable of realizing the kind of melodic ideas and intensity I sought luckily was the one I convinced to take on the job. Certainly without Holdsworth's huge contributions to Riptyde, it would not have been what it became. Much of the music was originally crafted with the intention of showcasing the singular talents of master guitarist Allan Holdsworth."