US born, Czech Republic based composer and guitarist Geoff TYSON has been a part of the rock music universe for more than 30 years, with his stints in the bands Stimulator and T-Ride probably the most high profile roles he have had over the years. He has been a recording solo artist since at least 2006, and at the start of 2020 he self-released his third solo album “Drinks With Infinity” as a digital production. The album has since been picked up by UK label Cargo Records, who subsequently released the album in the summer of 2020.

It doesn’t take too many minutes of playing this (mainly) instrumental album before many fans of rock and hard rock would state that Tyson is a musician in the Satriani school of guitarists. The playful spirit, elegant movements and sheer fun factor are all there. That Tyson was a pupil of Satriani back in the day isn’t all that much of a surprise then, and probably explains some details here and there that have a more uncanny resemblance the the master than many other guitarists opting for a similar approach to their exploits.

Tyson creates songs that share the core traits that made Satriani a big player. The songs are made with the listener in mind, and made and executed in a manner that makes them enjoyable also for people that aren’t guitarists or musicians to listen to. The technical tidbits and details fellow guitarists will appreciate are present, but rarely as truly dominant elements and always as a part of a greater totality that is engaging, playful and fun to listen to. Plucked guitar details, flowing movements, sweeping passages, gnarly effects and all manner of small and large effects are used along the way. Often expressive, often  energetic, but also with space and room for the delicate moments and more subtle interludes. At times to the point of breaking momentum, but more often than not with a fine and well perceived balance of all the elements used.

What makes an album of this kind truly special is that these songs revolve around more than the guitar as a lead instrument. Bass, drums and keyboards have their place and their use, synthesizers and effects that perhaps aren’t always made by the guitar as well. Often the additional instruments will have dominant placements too, although not being given the leeway to be quite as expressive. Still, they are a part of a totality, and a totality that feels planned at that. In short, the songs here come across as complete compositions, where all instruments and movements give me as a listener the impression that everything was written and planned as a totality all along.

The best bits of this album, and there are quite a few of them at that, are creations that I’d claim are just about as engaging as a listener experience as the best moments of aforementioned Satriani. Personally I’d add a few plus points for Tyson for allowing the additional instruments to have larger roles throughout as well, although that is obviously a matter of subjective taste.

All in all I find “Drinks With Infinity” to be a highly entertaining and enjoyable production, filled to the brim with playful and expressive antics, and what appears to be a genuine joy of music in general and guitar driven instrumental music in particular. Fans of early Satriani strike me as something of a key audience, and those who love and treasure Satriani’s album “Not of This Earth” in particular should take note of this artist and this album.

My rating: 86/100

Links:
https://www.geofftyson.com/
https://cargorecordsdirect.co.uk/