Ironcladd's Full Review: High Tension Wires by Steve Morse
High Tension Wires: A Steve Morse Classic (Never Too Many Notes!)
By
James P. Zaworski
As I have written many times before in my music reviews about Steve Morse, he is one of my all time favorite guitar players. Starting out with his band, The Dixie Dregs, in the late 1970s and into the 1980s, Steve Morse has established himself in the fusion/rock circles as one of the best around. He began a solo career in the early to mid 1980s, and now is the main guitarist with the rock band Deep Purple. Steve plays with all three bands to this day.
Steve Morse’s third solo recording, “High Tension Wires”, is definitely one of his best. He has broken free from the pressures of the music industry that marred his second solo CD. Out of the depths of disgrace, he pulls out his most artful and seminal work. What follows is the review of my personal favorite songs from this CD. I hope you agree with my humble review.
Ghost Wind.
As the name implies, this is a hauntingly beautiful instrumental composition. Steve so elegantly captures the essence of the title here in his guitar playing, one wants to cry.
Indeed, I do every time I hear this tune. It reminds me so much of the death of my oldest sister, that I cannot hear this without thinking of her. It is such a beautiful melody, played so artfully by Steve, and with very appropriate and strategic overdubs, and full of counterpoint and syncopation. It is art.
The Road Home.
This one has been resurrected from the Dregs days, and in its new form it is even more lovely. Steve plays a variety of guitars here, from acoustic to his signature guitar, and Ernie Ball Music Man guitar (later he tweaked the design and has the Steve Morse guitar). He plays with such feeling here, especially when he bends the strings in the first exclamation in the introductory theme. It was three or four years between Stand Up and High Tension Wires. Steve was bottled up and had to let it all out here in an outpouring of emotion and creativity in this recording session. It is at once beautiful and amazing to behold.
Highland Wedding.
This is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard in my life! When I get married, I want this to be played at my wedding. Everyone that I have played this song for has loved it, and they instantly recognize the feeling and beauty that they are beholding. Really, it is like standing on the threshold of a heaven, with all of the expectation and hope of love that has been dreamed of, suddenly realized in this one moment. It starts with the main theme, played on the acoustic guitar, and as the whole theme plays out in its beauty, the theme changes into elegant majesty, with Steve changing from acoustic to electric guitar. Steve’s playing is so incredibly inspired here, and so full of feeling and of power, that one would think that his creative energy would certainly be exhausted. Any words that I use to express what he expresses on his guitar are shabby and incomparable, and utterly fail in the attempt. The title reflects the Celtic connection, this time with the highlands of Scotland. Mr. Morse must be of the Scots-Irish descent, methinks. He is a good student, and a good master of the art. He has kissed the stringed Blarney Stone. This, along with Tumeni Notes, is my favorite track on this CD. His final flurry displays this eloquently. If Ghost Wind makes me cry, this one makes me even more tearful.
Tumeni Notes.
Tumeni Notes is a lovely worded play on the phrase “too many notes”, a reference made in the movie Amadeus by one of the emperor’s courtiers to the music of Mozart. Steve picked up on this line, apparently, and takes it to heart. Here he shows his metal, as it were. He plays too many notes! Mozart was accused of trying to impress beyond his ability, and Steve shows us here that he is the fastest gun in the west. He easily plays sixty-fourth notes, that is, hemidemisemiquavers, easily. Steve solos easily, incredibly, inexorably, and breathtakingly. I cannot believe it, really, until I saw him do this live in concert. No overdubs here, just Steve playing raw and real. Holy Jesus! I am a believer!
My favorite track on this CD, along with Highland Wedding; all I can say is, let’s get married, and too many notes is never enough!
Looking Back.
A wonderful, Celtic remembrance is played out here for us. This tune is lovely in its own way, with a classical feel to it. There is a piano sound here, and it is Steve, being the ever- present experimentalist with music. He is not limited to the guitar, though he plays such a lovely ethereal acoustic guitar solo in the middle. I love it.
Lephrechaun Promenade.
As the name implies, Steve plays the luck of the Irish pixies here. It is a magical and wonderful track, resurrected from the Dregs era, of course of his own composition, but rearranged here to be at once given more piano and more guitar sound. It is lovely as well.
So, all in all, Steve Morse has perhaps his most beautiful and artful recording of his career in High Tension Wires. I have cherished this CD since I bought it as an LP back in 1987. If you are a fan of Steve Morse, or of guitar music, or of instrumental music, you will love this and cherish this CD as much as I do.
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