Rewired - The Electric Collection by Daryl Stuermer

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SEA OF TRANQUILITY

Stuermer, Daryl: Rewired-The Electric Collection

Many will surely know the name Daryl Stuermer, guitarist with fusion violinist Jean Luc Ponty (1975-1978), Genesis (1978-1992), and a member of Phil Collins' band since 1982. In addition, Stuermer has recorded an impressive body of solo work, starting with Steppin' Out in 1990 on the GRP label. That album was a stunning collection of jazz-fusion instrumentals, showing that Stuermer was more than just a sideman, and could deliver the goods as a distinct solo artist with impeccable guitar chops. Throughout the 90's and up until recently the guitarist recorded a bunch of albums for Urban Island Music, and now finds himself on Quebec's Unicorn Digital, with his first release for the label titled Rewired-The Electric Collection. The CD is a collection of some of the best songs that he has recorded over the last 16 years, newly edited and remastered, and features hard hitting electric guitar pieces that show off his wonderful tone and tasty chops in rock, fusion, jazz, and progressive rock formats.

If Daryl is going to use this batch of songs for the direction he is going to stay focused on for the near future, then we are all in for a treat. These ten tracks are simply breathtaking, whether the guitarist lays down lyrical & melodic beauties like "Wherever You Are", Celtic flavored jigs such as "Highland Hip Hop" & " American Fields", or symphonic fusion barn burners like "Determined", he's on the mark over and over again. His tone is as sweet as Ronnie Montrose, and his technical expertise as commanding as Eric Johnson or Joe Satriani. Listen to him rip on the rockin' fusion cuts "Yin Yang Boogie" and the Elektric Band-ish "Road Warrior", two mind-blowing and tasty treats that show the guitarist shredding with the best of them, the latter also featuring some dazzling keyboard work from Kosha. For catchy instrumental rock, it doesn't get better than "Deadline", an addicting number with memorable guitar and keyboard harmonies, and rock solid rhythms. Other musicians on the album include such familar names as bassist Leland Sklar and percussionist Luis Conte.

If you've never heard any of Daryl Stuermer's solo material, this is a great place to start. Once you have, you'll scratch your head and wonder why the hell Mike Rutherford played most of the lead guitar work for Genesis all those years after Steve Hackett left. Overall, this is wonderful stuff, and here's hoping Stuermer has some new material for us relatively soon.

Added: November 29th 2006

Reviewer: Pete Pardo

Score: 5-Stars

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DARYL STUERMER ‘REWIRED - THE ELECTRIC COLLECTION’ Unicorn Records (2006) www.unicornrecords.com

Guitarist Daryl Stuermer may not be a well known to many but he is in the reformed Genesis touring band and has worked with the band and on their solo projects previously, plus of course carved his own solo niche. This collection shows of his guitar style, never too overstated and with a good ear for melody. The music ranges from jazz fusion through to some very prog rock moments and each song ha s tight melody with no OTT noodling that puts many off such instrumental albums. Picks are ‘Determined’ with its soaring guitar and keys, ‘Morning Train’ and ‘Road Warrior’.

Nicely timed for the Genesis reunion next year when Stuermer’s profile will be on the rise once more.

***1/2

Jason Ritchie

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HARDSOUNDS

VOTO 78

RECENSORE Paolo "Paul the rock" Brilli

RECENSITO IL 02/12/2006

STUERMER, DARYL Daryl Stuermer è stato il chitarrista dei Genesis, precisamente dal 1978 al 1992, e adesso fa parte della band di Phil Collins, in parallelo a questo si è dedicato a lavori autonomi a partire dal 1988: tutti strumentali e tutti dedicati principalmente a mettere in risalto il suo strumento.

Rewired, l'album che qui stiamo trattando, è una raccolta dei brani più significativi della sua carriera, rivisitati in chiave più "elettrica" per la nuova pubblicazione. Nelle 10 tracce possiamo quindi scoprire Stuermer passo dopo passo dagli inizi di Stepping Out (album del 1988) alla sua penultima pubblicazione The Nylon String Sampler (album del 2005).

La musica che ci propone Stuermer spazia dal rock alla fusion senza disdegnare riferimenti progressivi (anche se labili) ritrovabili nel passato dei Genesis. La tecnica di Stuermer risalta in ogni brano ed è godibile a pieno senza mai risultare troppo ambiziosa e/o autocompiacente, cosa che spesso si rischia di riscontrare in album strumentali di questo tipo. Il risultato complessivo è elegante e si pone come perfetto accompagnamento per il relax dell'ascoltatore dimostrando, se mai ce ne fosse bisogno, che ci troviamo ad ascoltare un chitarrista di spessore.

Fra tutti i brani mi sento di segnalare principalmente Wherever You Are, probabilmente la traccia più bella, Highland Hip Hop e The Least You Can Do: tre brani che da soli basterebbero a mettere in risalto questo lavoro.

Rewired è l'album perfetto per conoscere la parte solista di questo chitarrista e quindi risulta indicato a tutti coloro che non hanno mai avuto occasione di ascoltare i suoi lavori, mentre per chi già possiede gli album precedenti questa raccolta potrebbe essere vista come un doppione, seppur con un piglio differente, e quindi consiglio un ascolto preventivo.

Un album strumentale elegante, indicato per coloro che vogliono avvicinarsi alla musica di Stuermer al di fuori dai Genesis e per color che apprezzano brani dove la chitarra fa da padrone ma che non siano solo esercizi di stile.

REWIRED - THE ELECTRIC COLLECTION

Rock/fusion - Unicorn Digital - 2006

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