Scott HUGHES: Lapse CD. Rare. 31 minutes of jazz / rock Fusion heaven!

Track Listing
:) (0:59)
Cats 'N' Dogs (5:13)
Moods (5:17)
With An 'E' (5:13)
Odd (4:19)
Mr. Man (3:28)

Fusion
Lapse, a solo project by Maine-based guitarist/composer Scott Hughes, is an atmospheric and upbeat album which perfectly blends Hughes' love for jazz with his rock guitar technique. Hughes has taken influences ranging from Allan Holdsworth and Steve Vai to Robben Ford and Jeff Beck and created his own distinct musical personality and style. Lapse highlights include the distictive "Angular" and the spacey yet challenging "With An 'E'." Instrumental Guitar (Electric/Fusion),
total running time, 30:59

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Lapse is laid-back, jazzy, guitar-hero rock, Zappaesque and Ron Thal-like guitar and vibes jams. I kept hearing Thal's The Adventures of Bumblefoot. Hughes is not copying any of these styles, but the influences seem evident. Tracks one thru three -- ":)," "Angular," and "Cats 'n' Dogs" -- each have the Thal/Zappa twisted feel and inherent fun ride to them. Crank these up for the full range of effects. On "Moods," a mellow Vinnie Moore guitar styling comes through without any Bach-rock noodlings, just a well-done ballad here. Immediately Hughes flows into track five, "With an 'E'," in a bizarre little ditty of tortured whammy bar leads and ascending/descending wah-wah scales, and fiery Steve Vai styled accents of his Flexable era. Vignettes of curiosa guitarra eclectica wail forth upon thou. "Odd" is up next with again a Ron Thal feel, but a tinge of Ronnie Montrose and some Jeff Beck. Thal's frenetic axe-torturing around the 22th fret is clearly evident in Hughes' lead stylings, as well as his tension-building/release modes. Compositional framework calls to mind Zappa, but not nearly as frantic here. We end things up with "Mr. Man," a boogie-down, earthy, nite-club jam out, lick-tradin' fest with guitarist Bill Pierce. This piece lacked the dimension displayed in the rest of the CD's songs and, well, was not memorable. It was good licks, good playing, but a snoozer song-wise.

Scott Hughes does excellent guitars, sequencing, and drum programming throughout. Bill Pierce guest guitars on "Mr. Man" with Jim Goss keys soloing on "Angular." If you liked Ron Thal's debut release, then you may enjoy Scott Hughes' Lapse.