I'd heard of Davie Allan & The Arrows, but never heard their music prior. That remains true even today, 18 years later (I mean the classic mid 60s stuff of course). Based on the reviews I've seen, I can pretty much ascertain where the music will fall. And I think that bias tainted my initial listen, as 1) I recall little about it and 2) I just figured this was some dude in his 50s recreating - or cashing in on - a past legacy.
Wrong! Hold that thought.
In the early 90s the American label I.R.S. had a popular series (in the underground anyway) called Guitar Speak. In effect, these were various artists albums where a famous guitarist from the 60s and 70s (anyone from Montrose to Akkerman to Iommi and beyond) would provide a unique guitar based instrumental track. These albums were surprisingly quite good, and most of the guitarists did not succumb to showboating or shredding.
Davie Allan would have been a perfect fit for the above series (many released a full album of similar). Of course the biker themes are still prevalent throughout, but this is not some cornball soundtrack - and it most certainly is not Surf Rock! The Ventures will not enter your mind here. What you get is 15 (14 in my case because I have the LP) quality guitar instrumentals. Every once in a while a mid 60s styled motif would appear, but mostly this sounds every bit like a modern instrumental rock album - with lots of cool fuzz guitar. All the songs are well thought out, and there's plenty to derive out of each one.
Really surprised the heck out of me. A definite keeper.
Personal collection
LP: 1998 Total Energy
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