Joe Satriani - Surfing With The Alien: 20th Anniversary Edition

Bald, bespectacled guitar god’s sophomore splendour

Given that Joe Satriani cut 10 classic tracks for his 1987 endeavour, SonyBMG have provided the only addition they could have: video footage running to 11 tracks from the July 1988 Montreux Jazz Festival.

The extras are merely icing on the cake of an already sumptuous serving of instrumental guitar heaven. Every track stands up as a magisterial exercise in superlative technique, emotiveness and dexterity. The title track kicks off with Satriani’s wiry, slinky lines, super-slick tapping and cool-as-ice rhythm foundation. Ice adds a martial edge with delicious fuzz tones, before Crushing Day romps along in intricate fashion. The syncopated Satch Boogie is as tricky as a labyrinth, while the gothic Hill Of The Skull is topped by the headlong rush of Circles. Throw in the sitar strains of Lords Of Karma and the super-chilled strum of Midnight, and this is night-drive music par excellence.

SonyBMG | 88697096682

Reviewed by Tim Jones
<< Back to Issue 341