This 1992 release features
Holdsworth in conversation with usual compatriots
Jimmy Johnson,
Chad Wackerman, and
Gary Husband. Keyboards are provided not only by
Steve Hunt, but also by both
Wackerman and
Husband.
Husband in particular demonstrates that his facility on the keyboards is equal to his skill on the drums. Despite the all-star cast of characters, there are certain peculiarities to
Wardenclyffe Tower that prevent it from being numbered among
Holdsworth's best work. One very obvious oddity is the strange and ill-advised ending to the opener,
"5 to 10," which concludes with a toilet flushing and an annoying voice-over. Mistakes in judgment aside, there is something formless about this album, something that blurs the tracks together in a meaningless way.
Holdsworth has always been more of a distinctive than a strong composer, and the batch of tunes that he contributes here is not very compelling. The title track, with its power-chord verse, and his collaboration with singer
Naomi Star,
"Against the Clock," are his strongest moments. The presence of
Hunt's
"Dodgy Boat" helps but it is not enough to elevate this album to the level of
Holdsworth's past successes. This is not to say that there is not meaningful music on
Wardenclyffe Tower, because there is.
"Against the Clock," which features not only
Star's voice but also the drums of
Vinnie Colaiuta, is one such success.
Holdsworth makes use of the SynthAxe guitar synthesizer on several tracks on
Wardenclyffe Tower, the most effective use of which is here, where his solo emerges from empty space in a constantly accelerating fashion, like a boulder rolling down a hill (although
Holdsworth's ascending line sets forth the impossible scenario of falling upwards). All in all, however, there is a lack of dynamic movement in the soloists and the compositions in general. Of value to
Holdsworth completists, but not of much interest to casual fans. ~ Daniel Gioffre