Steve Tibbetts – Safe Journey

An absolutely astounding record that should be part of anyone who wants to hear just how far you can go with a guitar that isn't always a fiery guitar "statement". Five stars.

If one were to compile a list of iconoclastic and innovative guitarists who came to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s, the list would have to include such names as Michael Hedges, Adrian Belew, David Torn and Steve Tibbetts. While Tibbetts is probably the least known of the four, his work is easily on par with that of the others. What makes Tibbetts unique among these is that he is equally prone to playing acoustic and electric guitars. He has released several all-acoustic albums, but most of his albums feature a good mixture of both, as well as judicious use of electronic effects and a heavy reliance on a variety of exotic and familiar percussive instruments.

Safe Journey is all of the above in a nutshell. From the scorching electric guitar pyrotechnics of the album opener, "Test," to the eerie ambiance of "Night Again," everything that gives Tibbetts his utterly unique voice is here. Safe Journey is exotic, mysterious, introspective, transcendent and aggressive -- sometimes all at once. This makes Safe Journey the Steve Tibbetts album to get if you are only going to get one. If you are like most people who are exposed to Tibbetts' work, however, you will find that one is not nearly enough.