Allan Holdsworth - Velvet Darkness
Our Price: $34.99
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
CD Details
Artist: Allan HoldsworthEdition: Music CD
Format: Import
CD Release Date: 2000-07-26
Music Label: King Japan
Soundtracks:
- Good Clean Filth
- Floppy Hat
- Wish
- Kinder
- Velvet Darkness
- Karzie Key
- Last May
- Gattox
Music reviews of Velvet Darkness
Music Review: It's not *that* bad Allan.
Rating: 3 Stars
I find it humorous that there are two listings for this disc here on Amazon; the 1990 release with 5 bonus tracks (which I wish I could get my hands on, at a reasonable price) which received six 5-star reviews. Then there's this edition, which has received marks all over the map. With all due respect to both Maestro Holdsworth and Mr. Burke, who gave this a lowly 1 star, this release is not too bad.
Honestly, I had no intention of buying this... ever... at the exorbitant prices I'd seen. However, I had the opportunity through "a competitor" to get it for $20. I couldn't imagine finding it cheaper, and, out of fear it would soon disappear from existence altogether... well...
So, I just got it yesterday and pressed play for the first time. Frankly, after the aimless Good Clean Fun and filler acoustic track Floppy Hat, I was ready to concede that I had wasted my money and that I would file this away as a forgettable rare keepsake of a great man's career.
Track 3, Wish, started to turn me around. Although Allan was mostly absent from this piece, as he had also been in the opener, I started to hear foreshadowing of Gong's Gazeuse. No...the song arrangements are no where near as complex, the playing is a bit unrefined and Holdsworth is uncharacteristically sloppy in places, but... HELLO! Everyone knows the story. This was never intended to be released. If you take this for what it is, which is a bunch of loose ideas being jammed on by some talented musicians, there are some tasty morsels to be discovered. And while I'm at it, I think it's worth noting that Allan Holdsworth is not the only musician on this disc. Frankly, I don't have a clue who else played on it, and I'm not really all that interested, but the drummer, bass player and keyboardist (in particular) each have some inspired moments here.
(Chuckling to self... OK, I had to look anyway. It's Alan Pasqua on keys. I *thought* that style sounded awfully familiar.)
After the 2nd acoustic piece, Kinder, the album suddenly changes gears. (-Another side note: Although I pretty much dismiss these acoustic tracks as filler, the reviewers here that comment on how beautiful Allan's playing is are not far off the mark. I must admit that I was slightly surprised that his acoustic playing is just as clean and precise as on electric.) Track 5, Velvet Darkness, announces that this is a legitimate collection of 70's fusion. Holdsworth is finally given a little bit of space to breathe and explodes at about the 3:15 mark with a flurry of raw energy. His violin work in Karzie Key is not particularly inspired, but the opening (and closing) guitar riff is possibly the most muscular thing I've ever heard Holdsworth play. Last May is another acoustic number, and finally Gattox finishes the collection with fire and finesse.
So, maybe I just convinced you that only about 3...maybe 4 of these tracks are noteworthy. First of all, if you are not a fan of anything Holdsworth did pre-U.K., you didn't need to read this far. Don't buy it. However, if you are just a fan of 70's fusion (a la Gong & Soft Machine), and if you are open-minded to the fact that this is not a unified, well-written, perfectly produced and manicured document of the early days of Holdworth's career, still in the infancy of what would become an unparalleled musical legacy,... pick it up.
Oh... and I probably would have rated this closer to 3 1/2 stars, were that an option.
More Velvet Darkness free music reviews:
1
1
Description of Velvet Darkness
All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.Jazz CDs
Music Genres
Bestsellers in Jazz CDs
Curtis Brothers Quartet - Blood, Spirit, Land, Water, FreedomRelease date: 2009-10-01; Music CD
![Jazz Casual - 3-Pack Vol. 1 (Count Basie, Carmen McRae, John Coltrane) [VHS] Image](/images/Jazz-Casual-3-Pack-Vol-1-Count-Basie-Carmen-McRae-John-Coltrane-VHS-6305320578-X.jpg)
Jazz Casuals: Coltrane Basie & Mcrae - Jazz Casual - 3-Pack Vol. 1 (Count Basie, Carmen McRae, John Coltrane) [VHS]Rhino / Wea; Release date: 1999-05-04; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.98
Price in other shops:
![Jazz Legend: Part 2 1970-1987 [VHS] Image](/images/Jazz-Legend-Part-2-1970-1987-VHS-6303400787-X.jpg){kind=small}
Buddy Rich - Jazz Legend: Part 2 1970-1987 [VHS]Warner Brothers Pub.; Release date: 2000-10-20; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $10.75
Price in other shops:
![Living Legend of the Electric Guitar [VHS] Image](/images/Living-Legend-of-the-Electric-Guitar-VHS-6302658225-X.jpg){kind=small}
Les Paul - Living Legend of the Electric Guitar [VHS]Bmg Video Label; Release date: 1993-02-09; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $19.95
Price in other shops:
![Hurricane [VHS] Image](/images/Hurricane-VHS-6302251281-X.jpg){kind=small}
Herbie Hancock - Hurricane [VHS]View Video; Release date: 1992-04-07; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $2.50
Cocktails for Twoby band leader Spike Jones
Music CD
Best price: $19.95
![Dave Grusin and the NY/LA Dream Band [VHS] Image](/images/Dave-Grusin-and-the-NY-LA-Dream-Band-VHS-6301724496-X.jpg)
Dave Grusin - Dave Grusin and the NY/ LA Dream Band [VHS]Umgd; Release date: 1990-06-26; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $6.93
Price in other shops:
![Diane Schuur & Count Basie Orchestra [VHS] Image](/images/Diane-Schuur-Count-Basie-Orchestra-VHS-630164770X-X.jpg){kind=small}
Count Basie, Diane Schuur - Diane Schuur & Count Basie Orchestra [VHS]Grp Records; Release date: 1996-01-30; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $1.99
Price in other shops:
Damals in HamburgRelease date: 1999-08-11; Music CD
Best price: $23.52
Ben Webster - Ben WebsterRelease date: 2006-12-20; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Similar CDs
Blues for TonyRelease date: 2010-01-19; Music CD
Best price: $14.95
Price in other shops:
Allan HoldsworthAlfred; Release date: 2007-10-01; DVD
Best price: $17.24
Price in other shops:
Allan Holdsworth - SandRelease date: 1993-07-01; Music CD
Best price: $54.00
Bill Bruford - One of a KindBRUFORD,BILL; Release date: 1990-08-31; Music CD
Best price: $6.48
Price in other shops:
Allan Holdsworth - SecretsRelease date: 2011-11-02; Music CD
Best price: $15.99
Allan Holdsworth - AtavachronRelease date: 1993-07-01; Music CD
Best price: $59.99
Allan Holdsworth - i.o.u.Release date: 2005-11-08; Music CD
Best price: $17.55
Price in other shops:
Allan Holdsworth - The Sixteen Men Of TainRelease date: 2011-11-02; Music CD
Best price: $15.99
Allan Holdsworth - Metal FatigueRelease date: 2007-05-08; Music CD
Best price: $19.16
Price in other shops:
Allan Holdsworth - Then ! (Live)Release date: 2004-03-25; Music CD
Best price: $13.69
Price in other shops: