Review by Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck
No rating supplied
I don't know how, but Steve Morse just keeps getting better and better.
His music consistently remains fresh and new as a newborn's cry. "Spilt
Decision" is the latest montage of six-string virtuoso from one of
the world's greatest and perhaps most unheralded musicians. It amazes
me to this day why this man has not reached legendary status on every
corner of the planet. He seems to remain a cult hero, but he is steadfastly
regarded as one of the premier masters by all of his contemporaries.
Steve went back and forth with the label folks at Magna Carta about
what concept he would use for this album and he finally decided that
because he couldn't make up his mind…he came up with a split decision.
Just going with the normal creative flow to present all the aspects
and styles in his compositions is the zone he needs to be in. Magna
Carta has allowed him that flexibility and more. It's nice to see
a good man like Morse get his due respect and actually enjoy the label
folks he is working with; it's a nice change that needs to be recognized.
Just when you think he outdid himself with his previous release "Major
Impacts", he comes charging back like a raging bull back to raise
the bar one more notch. Man, where do I start with this guy? He is
always all over the musical map and it would be beyond reason to actually
write about his music in absolute detail, so I will give you some
highlights. First of all, let me say that this is a rock solid release
with no weaknesses whatsoever in any department. The sound, production,
and the musicianship are outstanding as always. You get some "Heightened
Awareness" right out of the starting block as the opener is a rocking
rave up in the usual straight ahead (complex) no frills style that
he is so well known for. What a ferocious string bender Morse is,
his tone is out of this world whether he is rocking in a "Mechanical
Frenzy" or laid back doing an acoustic number like the Celtic influenced
"Back Porch" or the new age textured "Natural Flow."
To say I enjoyed this is an understatement. By the third listen I
was finally ready to sit down and actually ponder what I was going
to say. There is so much to take in on a Morse album. His technique
is amazing and he is a true-to-form master technician in every sense
of the word. Simply put, he is a guitar player's guitar player, and
a gift to all who find him along their path. I am always "Majorly
Up" to listen to Steve Morse music.
1. Heightened Awareness - 4:19
2. Busybodies - 2:34
3. Marching Orders - 4:58
4. Mechanical Frenzy - 4:26
5. Great Mountain Spirits - 4:22
6. Majorly Up - 3:54 7. Gentle Flower, Hidden Beast - 5:37
8. Moment's Comfort - 5:33
9. Clear Memories - 3:21
10. Midnight Daydream - 5:18
11. Back Porch - 4:04
12. Natural Flow - 4:42
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