This is Uli’s first project after leaving Scorpions where he could expand on his Hendrix-influenced style. I’m a huge Uli fan and I guess I’m in the minority liking the early Scorpions material the best. The production is a bit flat and when the solo’s kick in, the background band drops out somewhat. It’s all about the guitar and how masterful Uli is.
The opening title track is awesome with lots of Uli ripping in with that beautiful melodic style. Lilac is a fairly short piece and has a spoken vocal before the guitar takes over. What a superb tone and melody! Burning Wheels Turning is musically beautiful and the solo is incredible. Uli’s vocals are an acquired taste and on the shorter pieces they are okay but here ,where the lyrics come at a fast pace, they come up a bit short. A short instrumental piece, Japanese Dream closes out Side 1.
Sundown opens up Side 2 and the guitar intro and melody are superb. The lyrics are definitely from the planet freak out, but it’s the guitar we are all here for and the fade out solo is superb. A short classical-style instrumental follows with Winterdays. Still So Many Lives Away is about as normal a song as you get on this album. The solo is just superb. The album closes out with the title track and this is Uli at his best. I would have bought the album just for this tune alone. Uli’s interpretation of an Earthquake, before, during and after. The sounds and tones that come flying at you are just incredible. There are not many modern players that have the tone and feel of the players from the seventies, it’s all about playing as many notes in the quickest time.
8.5/10 from The Grooveman.
