Reviews-Lost For Words

Reviews

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LOST FOR WORDS

Reviews for both Birth/Death/Infinity and Lost For Words:

A new super trio hits the scene, 'super' not because they are well known names, but because they have produced two absolutely storming albums of instrumental guitar-bass-drums music. 'Lost' is the first album and it opens in fine full-on fashion with some scorching electric guitar work that positively goes stellar in the heat, as the thunderous electric bass and superbly produced drums sound real tight, driving this six minute intro as a hail of riffs and solos fly past. It's not cliched heavy metal and it sure as hell rocks. Track 2 features a slightly funkier rhythm, but don't be put off by that because it's still absolutely solid and over this you'll find wave after wave of red hot electric guitar leads and wicked rhythm guitar backdrops as the firepower continues, never too fast, technical or flashy and always steaming; definitely essential listening for the Satriani/Macalpine/Goodsall legion of admirers. The compositions are soundly structured, excellently played and produced, with an eye always on the melody content, ensuring real tracks and not just aimless jams of flashy expertise with no feeling. Track 3 is slightly slower, bluesier and stretched out, with some superb drum work that ranges from quiet to crashing, as the guitar layers vary from gorgeous slides through biting solos to spacious restraint, all with a sense of edge, building to excellent effect over the near ten minute running time. Things go positively supernova around the four minute mark, but still at the same pace, although gathering intensity and firepower all along the way. Track 4 rocks once more while the eight minute track 5 starts as a tender melodic tune that gradually builds and layers with some incendiary flowing lead guitar work cutting right through as the slow, perfectly placed rhythm section pours forth. Track 6 is as inventive and consistent as all the others and is another near nine minute rock workout where the guitar just shines like a star in the night sky, as it burns its way through the airwaves over an ever dependable rhythm section. Overall, a mix of rock and fusion that never conforms to the excesses of either genre and is as good as the best past musicians working in this field - a 100% excellent debut album.

'Birth' is latest album and it is even more sensational, with the addition of keyboards and guitar synth to the line-up and this added element fills out the sound to excellent effect. The album opens with an eleven minute track of such fiery intensity, it recalls the best and most unforgettable dynamic power of the Inner Mounting Flame'/'Birds Of Fire' era Mahavishnu Orchestra, only here we get some huge muscular riffs and spiraling solos substituting for the sheer speed of the MO, and this is just incredible stuff as the guitars fly out in all directions over the solid rhythmic bed of bass/synth undercurrents and electric basses, all pounding away to skull-crunching effect as the guitars soar high above to breathtaking extent - a classic way to open any album and one of the best guitar tracks around. This is a class guitar based track with quality, pace, and power and an ideal, white hot opener. After that, track 2 sensibly takes things down to the gentle tune-like status as the soft drums, undulating bass, keyboards and relaxed melodic guitar work weave a gorgeous musical spell, all very emotional and heartfelt. Track 3 rocks, track 4 builds to great effect with the guitar gathering fire on a more bluesy, but cutting composition, allowing room for the bass to play a more important roll. Track 5 covers the Yardbirds classic For Your Love over seven fiery minutes, largely retaining the structure of the original song in melody terms, but really making it work as an instrumental in this context as the red-hot guitar tears out the lead lines and the drums propel the track along furiously. The ten minute title track alternates between restrained, dynamic and full-on power in an almost Holdsworth way, only dirtier and more effective with great feeling as the track carves its vari-paced progress. Track 7 is a restrained ballad mixing acoustic and electric guitars for three minutes while the final track is like a nuclear force instrumental mix of all the great guitarists you could name - the piece has a rhythm section that stomps its lead lined boots all over the soundstage while the guitar comes on like a positive tornado, tearing out everything in its path with sizzling solos and crunching, grungy molten riffing, threatening to destroy your speakers at any minute as the intensity builds and builds. You'd swear that your gear is about to ignite in a ball of fire at any minute as the album ends as magnificently as it began, and if you thought the first part was 100% excellent, then this scores an amazing 200%, ending one of the all-time great guitar albums, and I say that without any doubt whatsoever.

- Dead Ernest - November 1999

Review for Lost For Words:

In this era of sterile-sounding, overproduced, compositionally lame instrumental rock albums, Project 7's Lost For Words is a breath of fresh musical air. Featuring guitarist Danny Begelman, the album is characterized by melodic, listener-friendly, themes, funky toe-tappin' grooves, well paced, conversational guitar solos and inventive power quartet arrangements in the spirit of Jeff Beck's Blow by Blow. Begelman's sassy soloing on the cookin' funk shuffle "Six Fingers" recalls the British legend's "Freeway Jam", while his soulful, bluesy phrasing on the emotional ballad "Melinda" is the same caliber as Beck's classic interpretation of Stevie Wonder's, "`Cause We've Ended As Lovers". A seasoned musician, Begelman is more concerned with tone, taste and feel than flash and speed, though he is quite capable of Olympic-class shredding. Even when he does burn, his lines sound effortless and relaxed- the mark of a true virtuoso.

- Jimmy Brown/Guitar World Magazine '93

Lost For Words

Project 7 is a vehicle for would-be guitar hero Danny Begelman. On Lost For Words, this passionate New York chops-meister presents his answer to Jeff Beck's classic Blow By Blow. Raw rock power with a strong melodic concept and an uncompromising abandon in the solo's, particularly on "Point's East" and "Against the Ropes". A very impressive debut.

-Pulse/Tower Records, 1993

Lost For Words

Danny Begelman's premiere solo effort is chock full of tasty licks, hot riffs and lyrical melodic tunes from recognized guitar master music transcriber for major magazines. Complete mastery of fretboard in all styles. Best cuts: "Six Fingers", "Cliff Hanger" and "Manhattan Rag".

-Ray Rose, Music Release Monthly, June 1993

Lost For Words

Working in the power trio format, guitarist Danny Begelman displays considerable virtuosity and taste on styles ranging from heavy rock ("Six Fingers") to funk ("Manhattan Rag") and Beck-like fusion ("Points East"). It's a solid CD, far less excessive than most electric guitar instrumental CD's.

-Musician's Exchange, January 1994

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