FLATTire – Music For A Non-Existent Movie
FLATTire – Music For A Non-Existent Movie (MoonJune Records MJR053, 2013)
This is the 2013 reissue of Allan Holdsworth’s rare 2001 album FLATTire. Most of the pieces feature the synthaxe, the hybrid instrument that made Holdsworth’s music sound like it was performed by a keyboard synthesizer than a guitar. In that sense, FLATTire is essentially an electronic music album loaded with lightning-fast jazz improvisation, introspective sections and cinematic moments.
Allan Holdsworth provides the lead melodies and improvisation as well as some harmonic and rhythmic overdubs. Acoustic bassist Dave Carpenter appears on two tracks.
The concept behind FLATTire was an imaginary movie. “I had just gone through a difficult divorce and was experiencing a lot of pain and feeling very lost and introspective,” said Holdsworth. “I had always wanted to compose music for movies, but had never been given the opportunity. Whenever I watch a movie I like to imagine what sort of music I might compose for a scene, to create a particular kind of atmosphere, because when I see something I hear something. So, while recording FLATTire I tried to create these imaginary movies in my head and then write themes for them.”
The new edition of the album comes in digipak format, with new liner notes written by Guitar Player Magazine’s writer and editor Barry Cleveland.
FLATTire – Music For A Non-Existent Movie shows a different side of Allan Holdsworth, where he lets his visual imagination take control over music dexterity.