Summer Rain

Symphonic Slam
Although it is not uninteresting by itself, Symphonic Slam's eponymous LP became a collectors curiosity for its historical value: it appears to be the first album to make extensive use of the guitar synthesizer. Leader Timo Laine pioneered the technology when it was still in its infancy stage, so this effort from 1976 may not entirely convince fans of Alan Holdsworth -- not because Laine is not a talented (although not exceptional) guitarist, but because of the limitations of the instrument. The guitarist is backed by drummer John Lowery and keyboardist David Stone. Symphonic Slam is full of the spirit of the '70s: bombastic arrangements, crosses between rock and fusion, lyrics about becoming better persons, etc. Laine's voice is close to Brian Auger's -- it delivers the goods, but has nothing distinctive -- while his music stands somewhere between Mahogany Rush, Santana, and Stanley Clarke.