The sweeping, atmospheric guitar sound that singularly defines Joe Satriani has only improved with age. And for a man who relies heavily on electronics and a laundry list of otherworldly effects to help produce his sound (“It is a long list,” he laughs.), the modern technology of his home studio has opened new channels into the ether.
On his previous album Satriani asked, “Is There Love in Space?” His retort is a solid yes, and it is “Super Colossal” to boot, his latest album that stretches the atmosphere into a more layered, song-oriented approach that eschews guitar trickery for a denser overall sound.
“I tried to focus on the overall melody,” he said by phone from California where he is warming up for his current tour. “I sat down and thought about the two years of my life leading up to this point. I started to focus more on the overall sound then just the solo or melody guitar.
“That’s what happens after being on stage (for a lengthy G3 tour featuring Steve Vai and John Petrucci, plus 115 solo shows in 25 countries) and playing far too many notes,” he adds with a laugh.
Satriani’s original plan was to produce a live-in-the-studio album, but with the recent release of a “Live In Tokyo” G3 DVD, that seemed redundant.
“It seemed silly, I’d just done it, in essence,” he says. “I had my fill of where it is more about the spontaneity of playing off the composition. I went off to do something new instead… something that focused on the composition.”
Sequestered in his home studio, Satriani took up the unusual task (for him) of playing all the instruments except drums, and doing so without hurrying — a luxury not afforded in conventional studios where time is money. This, he says, allowed him to fully explore all the sonic possibilities.
The result is an album that, while full of Satriani’s sonic signatures and textures, benefits from an age-gained experience where less is more. Satriani’s ability to deconstruct a fretboard is a well-known fact, and there are a few blistering runs tossed about for good measure, but on “Super Colossal” these are not the focal point. Single notes are plucked and held beyond the breaking point while tightly constructed sweeping rhythms drive the tension. There is openness here, not found on past albums.
“Well, I think it’s a combination … but I spent a little more time experimenting with the direction of the record.” Plus, he adds, “I wanted it to be the best sounding record we ever did.”
Super, indeed.