REVIEW: MIKE CAMPESE - TOTAL FREEDOM

 MIKE CAMPESE - TOTAL FREEDOM (Independent, 2000):

Technical data:

Recorded at Virtual Sound Recording Studio

Remastered by Ted Malia - May 2001

Produced by Mike Campese

Cover Photo by Dan Castle

Track List: 1- Amberay, 2- Sea, 3- Thunder and Rain, 4- Sun, 5- heaven, 6- Jungle, 7- Last Train Out, 8- Blizzard, 9- Indian War, 10- Space, 11- Freedom, 12- Jewels

A great acoustic piece "Amberay" opens this CD of guitar maestro Mike Campese. Great taste, technique, great compositional skills is what Mike is all about. He can play from the most delicated acoustic texture to the heavier than hell riff or solo. Total Freedom is an album full of great guitar melodies and it explores the solo side of Mike Campese, because this is an album of solo guitar (only accompanied by some keyboards here and there). There are some overdubbings, so you can listen to Campese doing the melodies and the chord progressions at the same time with really good taste. Some of the tracks reminded me of Marty Friedman´s solo album "Scenes" or tu some of David Chastaín´s acoustic pieces. There are also some bluegrass and fusion influences too. A must for guitar fans. Favorite tracks: "Thunder and Rain", "Jungle" and "Blizzard". Contact: www.mikecampese.com