Pulling String

Steve Howe, best known as the guitar wizard on the majority of Yes' releases, has always had an intriguing solo career. The material that flies under his own flag covers a lot of musical territory, showing off the maestro's diversified tastes. One moment he may be doing rockabilly, the next flamenco, and then classical guitar solos. Add to that material that hearkens to the prog stylings of Yes, new age work, and fusion, and it is apparent to see that this is a man who is hard to pigeonhole. Pulling Strings is a live album recorded in 1994 on his American tour. The material present represents a good cross section of Howe's career, including several excerpts of Yes songs, and "My White Bicycle" from his psychedelic band Tomorrow. The arrangements are all based on solo guitar versions of the pieces, and the performances are definitely showcases of guitar precision and skill. One shortcoming on many Howe releases is his lack of a true "lead vocal" tone. Many times Howe overcomes this by doing non-vocal arrangements, even of songs that were sung in their original form. On this release, however, the vocal work is actually quite strong, although it is true that the majority of the material is instrumental in arrangement. If you are a fan of Howe, or of great guitar work in general, this album would certainly be a good addition to your collection.