Reb Beach – A View From The Inside
Reb Beach, Whitesnake guitarist since 2002 and founding member of Winger (with whom he is still active) has an impressive and musically diverse CV beyond those two bands.
The noted guitarist has worked with such metal, rock and pop luminaries as Twisted Sister, Howard Jones, Alice Cooper, Chaka Khan, Night Ranger, Roger Daltrey, Dokken and even The Bee Gees.
But with instrumental album A View From the Inside, Reb Beach is standing solo for the second time, having offered up his debut solo album Masquerade in 2002 (there was also a self-released album of 1993 demos released in 2001).
Given the instrumental nature of the album it would be reasonable to expect something in the vein of Steve Vai or Joe Satriani; but while there are rock elements to Reb Beach’s compositions (and he can shred with the best of them) he is not averse to a bit of heavy funk or throwing a few curve-balls, whilst also providing memorable melodies.
Older instrumental 'Black Magic (2020)' illustrates Reb Beach’s rock credentials with a breakneck piece of riffing to open proceedings. Over the top of this is some adept soloing with expert tapping/ legato techniques applied to great effect.
'Little Robots,' which follows, is a languorous funk number with a great melody part-spiced with some explosive harmonic and whammy bar parts (Reb Beach’s band, featuring drummer David Throckmorton and bassist Phillip Bynoe, are bang on the money here as well).
'Aurora Borealis' then provides the first of the curve-balls.
A Celtic-influenced electro-rock number with an epic feel when it reaches the chorus sections, it also manages to include a Zappa-esque diversion.
'Aurora Borealis' also reminds that if there is a comparative guitarist (in stylistic terms) it would be the sadly overlooked Marc Bonilla – that said following track 'Infinito 1122' sits firmly in Joe Satriani territory, albeit less straightforward in arrangement.
The noted guitarist has worked with such metal, rock and pop luminaries as Twisted Sister, Howard Jones, Alice Cooper, Chaka Khan, Night Ranger, Roger Daltrey, Dokken and even The Bee Gees.
But with instrumental album A View From the Inside, Reb Beach is standing solo for the second time, having offered up his debut solo album Masquerade in 2002 (there was also a self-released album of 1993 demos released in 2001).
Given the instrumental nature of the album it would be reasonable to expect something in the vein of Steve Vai or Joe Satriani; but while there are rock elements to Reb Beach’s compositions (and he can shred with the best of them) he is not averse to a bit of heavy funk or throwing a few curve-balls, whilst also providing memorable melodies.
Older instrumental 'Black Magic (2020)' illustrates Reb Beach’s rock credentials with a breakneck piece of riffing to open proceedings. Over the top of this is some adept soloing with expert tapping/ legato techniques applied to great effect.
'Little Robots,' which follows, is a languorous funk number with a great melody part-spiced with some explosive harmonic and whammy bar parts (Reb Beach’s band, featuring drummer David Throckmorton and bassist Phillip Bynoe, are bang on the money here as well).
'Aurora Borealis' then provides the first of the curve-balls.
A Celtic-influenced electro-rock number with an epic feel when it reaches the chorus sections, it also manages to include a Zappa-esque diversion.
'Aurora Borealis' also reminds that if there is a comparative guitarist (in stylistic terms) it would be the sadly overlooked Marc Bonilla – that said following track 'Infinito 1122' sits firmly in Joe Satriani territory, albeit less straightforward in arrangement.
The following brace of numbers, 'Attack of the Massive' and 'The Way Home,' are simply outstanding.
The former is an up-tempo, six-minute funk work-out with a bit of fusion thrown into the mix – the breakdown section builds to another great Reb Beach solo while drummer David Throckmorton is given an opportunity to show off his chops.
'The Way Home' is another funk work-out at its core but with a brilliant selection of melody parts and guitar techniques/ sounds (underlining that Reb Beach knows what he is doing, musically an d compositionally).
Bassist John Hall (who features on three of the numbers) provides the stellar funk bass part while Reb Beach wigs out with a spectacular solo. Truly excellent stuff.
'Whiplash' had a hard act to follow, but succeeds by taking us off into a completely different direction with a slice of jazz fusion, more outstanding guitar work and excellent melody composition.
'Hawkdance' then returns to Satriani land (in a very successful and satisfying way before 'Cutting Loose' does exactly what it says in the title.
Straight from the latter-day Whitesnake blues-metal template, 'Cutting Loose' is also a veritable riff-fest, with more ideas in one song than some bands have in an entire album.
Album closer 'Sea of Tranquillity' drops the tempo (for the first time) and is the closest in style to Steve Vai (think 'For the Love of God').
A lovely guitar melody with piano backing (including some string parts), 'Sea of Tranquillity' builds toward Reb Beach signing off with a bravura solo (including some spectacular legato parts) followed by a final piano figure.
When all is said and done, A View From The Inside is another "guitar album," but an exceptionally good one.
If you like your solos long and complicated, your melodies heartfelt and a bit of rock, funk and fusion, then this is the album for you.
Singers? Who needs ‘em.
Nelson McFarlane
FabricationsHQ
The former is an up-tempo, six-minute funk work-out with a bit of fusion thrown into the mix – the breakdown section builds to another great Reb Beach solo while drummer David Throckmorton is given an opportunity to show off his chops.
'The Way Home' is another funk work-out at its core but with a brilliant selection of melody parts and guitar techniques/ sounds (underlining that Reb Beach knows what he is doing, musically an d compositionally).
Bassist John Hall (who features on three of the numbers) provides the stellar funk bass part while Reb Beach wigs out with a spectacular solo. Truly excellent stuff.
'Whiplash' had a hard act to follow, but succeeds by taking us off into a completely different direction with a slice of jazz fusion, more outstanding guitar work and excellent melody composition.
'Hawkdance' then returns to Satriani land (in a very successful and satisfying way before 'Cutting Loose' does exactly what it says in the title.
Straight from the latter-day Whitesnake blues-metal template, 'Cutting Loose' is also a veritable riff-fest, with more ideas in one song than some bands have in an entire album.
Album closer 'Sea of Tranquillity' drops the tempo (for the first time) and is the closest in style to Steve Vai (think 'For the Love of God').
A lovely guitar melody with piano backing (including some string parts), 'Sea of Tranquillity' builds toward Reb Beach signing off with a bravura solo (including some spectacular legato parts) followed by a final piano figure.
When all is said and done, A View From The Inside is another "guitar album," but an exceptionally good one.
If you like your solos long and complicated, your melodies heartfelt and a bit of rock, funk and fusion, then this is the album for you.
Singers? Who needs ‘em.
Nelson McFarlane
FabricationsHQ