If you wanted to point someone a to a CD and say that "this disc pretty much defines what modern Fusion is all about" then you couldn't go far wrong with Uncle Moe's Space Ranch. The album should also appeal to those fans of instrumental prog and metal who like to hear talented and very capable musicians really stretch.

The CD Features a stellar lineup of Fusion musicians (could you call them Fusicians?). Brett Garsed and TJ Helmerich on guitars, Scott Kinsey of Keys, Gary Willis on Bass and Dennis Chambers on Drums. Brett and TJ have been musical sparring partners for some time and have released three CD's of guitar based fusion together. Brett is an Australian born guitarist who rose to fame with the John Farnham band and Nelson (yuk - well you gotta pay the rent) before striking out on his own and with TJ. TJ Helmerich has been hard to find information on but is a similarly awesome guitarist with a bent for using the studio as his instrument. He is particularly adept at the two-handed tapping style that came to fame during the 80's hair metal era and was pioneered by Eddie Van Halen (although technically Steve Hackett is generally credited with inventing the technique - ed.). TJ takes this style to a entirely different, non clichéd place. TJ has also engineered and produced a large number of recent fusion recordings. Scott Kinsey and Gary Willis are one half of the fusion group Tribal Tech and both bring phenomenal technical ability and sensitivity to the recording. Kinsey is one hell of a keyboardist and one of the leading lights of fusion keyboard with his enormous palate of sounds and highly original style. Gary Willis is a bass playing giant who can swing and groove with the best. Dennis Chambers is a drumming powerhouse who's CV lists a who's who of jazz, fusion and pop. From Steely Dan to Niacin to John Scofield, Chambers can do it all and is a shuffle monster.

All in all this CD is pretty much modern fusion. It tends to lean a little closer to the rock than jazz side but that is not a problem here as there is no lack of good ideas. Never is this disc boring and repeated listens reveals more and more that wasn't apparent on the initial spin. Headphones expose even more on this album that would not be picked up otherwise. With six such talented musicians this could easily have ended up a disaster but each gives the other room to move and each appears to use the other as a springboard. This is sonically interesting and there is never a dull moment. And best yet I hear there is an Uncle Moe's Space Ranch II coming out soon.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2006 Volume 2 at lulu.com/strangesound.