TABOO VOODOO - SOMETHIN'GS COOKIN' - 2002

This is an instrumental release put together by guitarist Cyril Archard who has released a couple of solo albums in the past. "Something's Cookin'" it is one of the better instrumental albums of late because the music is catchy just like Joe Satriani's "Flying In A Blue Dream" and "Surfing With The Alien" albums. Also the record has a good production sound which is what brings these songs alive, and the guitar playing is totally superb.

Taboo Voodoo mix all styles of the rock, sometimes they sound progressive and bluesy, whilst other times they sound funky, and complexed but always rocking and very straight forward stuff. Whilst I'm listening I keep thinking at times of Dream Theatre without vocals and Steve Vai.

I enjoyed 'Vertical Obsession' the most, the song has allot of character and is played well, I liked the keyboards, you could imagine say Tony MaCalpine and Cosmosquad doing a song in this style, great stuff, pretty technical playing. Why guys in the scene can't play with more feeling like the Cyril is beyond me, he has certainly progressed over his few studio albums, he's getting more interesting with each album and add to the team one Mike Terrana and you have a pretty solid unit who will go far as each album progresses, I feel they have it in them to take this band further, the album slows down on a few songs, allowing Cyril to totally shine on 'Clandestine Soul' which give Satriani and Greg Howe are run for their money. but the slower songs are filled with melody and character, forget the likes of Shawn Lane, Archard is even better and a very skilled guitarist.

"Something's Cookin'" has it's moments and very rarely get's boring, I would like to hear vocals next time around as sometimes I kept expecting to hear them, this is great, if your a fan of guitar rock then this is well worth investigating.
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