Steve Howe: Quantum Guitar (1998)

Steve Howe’s guitar world is a pleasant place to pass an hour.

Kronomyth 7: He who would climb the ladder must begin at the quantum.

Not quite as grand as The Grand Scheme of Things, as this is just Steve Howe on multitracked guitars with son Dylan providing a backbeat. Still, it’s a more polished affair than Homebrew, and it’s always a good time where a bit of Howe’s your father is concerned. It’s no secret that some of Yes’ most magical songs were piecemeal compositions strung together from different ideas that the members brought with them to the recording studio. Thus, it’s tempting to hear Quantum Guitar as Steve Howe’s latest bag of spells, many of which might have been woven into the next Yes album. A few of these pieces could be described as songs with words, as they feature an actual chorus and full-bodied arrangement. The 10-minute Suddenly is the best example of this, although The Collector, Paradox and Southern Accent also stand on their own. It’s a shame Steve Howe didn’t bring in an outside collaborator to flesh these out, such as Jon Anderson or Billy Sherwood. Heck, even John Payne would have been a welcome addition. The remaining titles are enchanted musical passages: intros (Momenta, The Great Siege), outros (Cacti Garden) and tiptoes through the tulips of elysian fields (Mosaic, Mainland, Knights of Carmelite). The array of guitars employed is astounding and Steve Howe seems to know just which arrow to pull from his quiver for the job at hand. (Another of my by-now ubiquitous references to his elven abilities.) Also included here are two excellent cover versions that make me wish he’d do an entire album of them (Walk Don’t Run, Sleep Walk). All in all, Quantum Guitar is a fine addition to your Steve Howe collection that points to the heights he would achieve with Yes on their next album, The Ladder.

The Songs

A1. Walk Don’t Run (Johnny Smith) (3:00)
A2. The Collector (3:01)
A3. Light Walls (Keith West/Steve Howe) (3:41)
A4. Mosaic (2:00)
A5. Suddenly (10:10)
A6. Country Viper (1:35)
A7. Mainland (3:28)
A8. Knights of Carmelite (3:02)
A9. Paradox (4:55)
A10. Momenta (2:54)
A11. Sleep Walk (Santo Farina/Johnny Farina/Ann Farina) (3:12)
A12. Sovereigns (2:12)
A13. Totality (2:24)
A14. Solid Ground (5:25)
A15. The Great Siege (2:13)
A16. Cacti Garden (2:24)
A17. Southern Accent (4:09)

All songs written by Steve Howe unless noted.

The Players

Steve Howe (guitars), Dylan Howe (drums). Produced by Steve Howe.

The Plastic

Released on compact disc on April 21, 1998 in the UK and the US (Resurgent, RES130CD) and on December 21, 1998 in Japan (Flavour, TFCK-87611).