One of the saddest things to happen this year was the news of the sudden passing of Jeff Beck. One of the great guitar innovators of modern music.
This album came out in 1980, four years after the release of Wired, and sees Jeff reunited with Jan Hammer on three of the tracks. This is the last of those killer fusion records he did.
Star Cycle starts with that familiar keys sound of Jan Hammer before it’s a typical Jeff groove workout. Killer playing. Too Much To Lose follows and that melody line Jeff plays is so good ,played on top of a great smooth funky groove. Superb opening to You Never Know. Killer interplay between Hammer and Beck, Jeff really gives it the beans. Side 1 ends with The Pump, a slowed down groover that sounds amazing and Jeff’s playing is on another level here. Killer production!
Side 2 bursts in with El Becko, a great fusion romp with some slide from Jeff. The Golden Road starts like some smooth jazz backing track interspersed with crazy Jeff licks. Space Boogie follows and this is one of my favourite ever Jeff moments. Killer uptempo groove from Simon Phillips and Mo Foster, superb keys from Tony Hymas, and then there’s Jeff just laying it down. Monster track! The album closes out with The Final Peace, just keys and guitar.
This is what I will remember Jeff for. That unreal control of feel and tone. I doubt we will see anyone like him again.
9/10 from The Grooveman.
