Black Light Syndrome

At best, a supergroup. At the very least, a brave step towards preserving creativity and integrity in the current music scene. Virtuoso playing, changing moods and brilliant compositions are the results of this unique blend of talents.

Terry Bozzio - Drums and Electronic Tape Loops
Steve Stevens - All Guitars
Tony Levin - Basses and Stick

"Terry Bozzio, drummer for Frank Zappa and Jeff Beck. Tony Levin, bassist for King Crimson and Peter Gabriel. Steve Stevens, guitarist for Billy Idol and Michael Jackson. To the typical prog fan, Stevens may seem the odd man out in this trio, but guitar aficionados know that he is a well-respected guitarist and composer of Grammy Award-winning movie soundtracks. Initially conceived as a "names" project (like the Players session with Jeff Berlin, Scott Henderson, T Lavitz and Steve Smith), the endeavor evolved into a very special recording session.

Initiated by Bozzio, only he and Stevens had met before the recording session for a few jams, just to make sure the potential was present. Otherwise, none of the musicians had previously played together. The trio entered the recording studio for four days and spontaneously composed and played the seven songs on this disc.

The opening track, "The Sun Road," was the result of the first studio jam and the version here is the second take. In fact, each song was recorded live in only the first or second take, with no punch-ins to erase bum notes, etc. Before leaving the studio, Levin dubbed in a few extra bass lines with the Chapman Stick, bowed upright bass and so forth, for added tonal coloring. Stevens then took the tapes for five days to overdub some effects and a few extra guitar, guitar-synth and electric sitar lines.

For the most part, though, 'Black Light Syndrome' is a live in the studio jam session with three excellent musicians. The songs were composed in one of two ways: the trio worked out some guideposts and improvised their way from one to the next, or simply let the creative juices flow as they may. Two songs fall into the latter category and, interestingly, they feature Stevens on Flamenco guitar on "Duente" and a jazzy acoustic guitar on "Book of Hours." His chordal work on "Book of Hours" reminded me of John McLaughlin from his 'Que Alegria' album.

The remaining songs are generally oriented to the electric guitar. I do not know if the songs are presented in the order they were recorded, but certainly the chemistry among the three musicians seems to improve as the disc proceeds. The high point, for me, was "Falling in Circles." All three musicians click into a ferocious groove. Stevens' killer chops run the range from bluesy riffs to swirling "the UFOs are landing" metal licks. Bozzio is an outstanding drummer and I particularly liked his cymbal work. Levin simply demonstrates why he is one of the most respected and in-demand session bassists in the business today.

Regardless of whether you classify 'Black Light Syndrome' as instrumental rock or progressive rock, I think you'll find it hard to deny that something wonderful happened when these three musicians entered the studio together."
- Gibraltar Digizine

"Black Light Syndrome is one of the most fulfilling and original improvisational instrumental collections of the past ten years! Inspired and startling performances all around!"
- Michael Gresley for Epinions.com