Review: Steve Morse Band – Triangulation
Steve Morse Band – Triangulation
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Digital / Label: Mascot Label Group – Music Theories Recordings
Release: 2025
Text: Martien Koolen
‘Triangulation’ is the first new Steve Morse album in sixteen years, but who’s counting anyway… Steve Morse, signature guitarist, started his musical career as a founder of the notorious Dixie Dregs (they made seven studio albums), played guitar in Kansas, Deep Purple and Flying Colors and Morse also made a couple of solo (Steve Morse Band, Steve Morse) albums.
‘Triangulation sees Morse return with his “old” music buddies Dave LaRue (bass guitar) and Van Romaine (drums) and guest players Eric Johnson (guitar), John Petrucci (guitar), Kevin Morse (guitar), and Scott Sim (Highland pipes). Break Through opens this instrumental album and right from the start you hear those amazing signature riffs and grooves from Morse, which makes him such a stand-out guitarist, as his guitar tone is so warm and expressive you get goosebumps every time Steve picks a note!
TexUS is an energetic, bluesy jam, featuring Eric Johnson and the guitar “duels” between Morse and Johnson are a treat for every guitar addict indeed, as TexUS is a 100% melodic burner! Another highlight here is the title track, which features no one less then Dream Theater’s guitar “monster” John Petrucci. Triangulation is the heaviest track of the album with monster riffs, jaw dropping, complicated solos and in fact the whole song is a master class in guitar playing. March Of The Nomads is an Eastern-tinged track with guest player Scott Sim on Highland Pipes, which gives the song that extra Eastern-like vibe indeed. Tumeni Partz, the longest song, is a wonderful tour de force indeed, where LaRue’s bass playing is really second to none and Morse’s arpeggios and solos give me goosebumps again….
‘Triangulation’ is definitely one of the finest and most beautiful instrumental guitar albums of this year, so a real treat for guitar addicts and guitar aficionados. Play it LOUD and get out your air guitar to try to play along to Morse’s more than excellent guitar picking.
Tracks:
01. Break Through
02. Off the Cuff
03. TexUS (feat. Eric Johnson)
04. The Unexpected
05. March of the Nomads (feat. Scott Sim)
06. Ice Breaker
07. Tumeni Partz
08. Triangulation (feat. John Petrucci)
09. Taken by an Angel (feat. Kevin Morse)
Website: https://stevemorse.com/