This album finds Peter providing guitar and keyboards, and he is joined by Shunzo Ohno (trumpet), Xander Nichting (violin), Max Gerl (bass), Scott Jackson (drums and percussion) along with the Czech National Symphony, Orchestra on a few numbers. Now, I enjoy fusion as much as anyone, as it has a wonderful life and presence which makes it quite special indeed, so when I saw the album title, I was quite looking forward to this, especially given the reputation Xifaras has for his work in this field. What I was not expecting was something that sounds as if it comes to us straight from the Eighties with production to match. The standout in many ways is bassist Max Gerl, who tries really hard to imbibe life into this, But Shunzo Ohno never has the impact he should, Xander Nichting should have been told to leave his electric violin at home and stick with the real thing, while Scott Jackson could easily have been replaced by a drum machine (and possibly has). Xifaras never really gets the piano or guitar going and appears to be happy enough providing repetitive motifs which could have been played once and then set to repeat, one of Trevor Horn’s favourite tricks.

There is no passion or soul within this, it just feels plastic and sterile, and consequently is quite hard to work through. I note this has been given multiple rave reviews, and Xifaras himself has been called out for some wonderful work, so somehow I must have been sent something else as having reviewed this I cannot see myself ever playing it again.

Rating: 5/10

Links:
https://peterxifaras.com/