It's always a tricky task to write a review for an instrumental album especially from a guitar virtuoso. I mean, the music is focused on guitar leads, arpeggios and sometimes really difficult phrases that pop up from different styles. The hard thing about these reviews is that since there are no vocals the average listener cannot connect to the music and thus is getting bored with it.
So, this is the case about Row an instrumental album written and performed by John B. As it usually happens this kind of reviews refer to all the guitar lovers and especially to those who like to play or even fool around (like myself) with one six string lady on their hands. While listening to Row several and most famous performing styles came to my mind; like the one from mastermind Satriani during the melodic groovy parts in IV and in the VII. The other one was something between Marty Friedman's fast and sometimes exotic scales and Yngwie Malmsteen's aggressive six string attacks.
The artist gets his hands dirty in the heavy track of IX with shredding riffs and then breathes a relaxing breeze on the keyboard based and most atmospheric XI that closes this album. Overall, the album flows smoothly without surprises or pompous compositions proving the artist's high performing skills. Well, the latter are just not enough to make an instrumental album stand out but some bold compositions that could shock the listener.
It is obvious that this release will be mostly appreciated by fellow guitar loves that like to discover new grounds through long and sometimes finger bleeding trips upon the steel chords of the guitar. I liked listening to this one although I'd prefer a more live sound from the percussion that sounds like it is computer made.