Ex-Scorpions guitarist gone solo.
Ex-Scorpions
guitarist gone solo.
Uli Jon Roth/Electric Sun - Earthquake (Griffin/Castle) 1979
1. "Electric Sun"
(5:16)
2. "Lilac" (2:49)
3. "Burning Wheels Turning" (6:41)
4. "Japanese Dream" (3:52)
5. "Sundown" (4:06)
6. "Winterdays" (1:25)
7. "Still Many Miles Away" (4:40)
8. "Earthquake" (10:31)
Uli's first solo output after his split with the Scorpions gave him a chance to stretch out a bit and explore his love for all things Hendrix and psychadelic. There are also some Eastern influences, an influence that he also brought into some of the early Scorps records. Uli's fascination for Japan is also quite apparent with songs like "Japanese Dream". There are lots of self indulgent guitar antics on "Earthquake" as well as a few more straight forward cuts. Uli's vocals are a bit odd to my ears and become a bit of a distraction, albeit a distraction that diminishes with repeated listens. However, who listens to Uli for the vocals? It is quite obvious listening to this album why Yngwie Malmsteen was so inspired by this German guitar hero. (After all, Yngwie's "Rising Force" moniker was directly lifted from the name of the artwork on this album.) Uli played like few others, save for Ritchie Blackmore, in the late 70's. A pleasant disc, and one that I quite enjoy, despite the slight distraction from the vocals. My copy is autographed by Uli, who I met at the House of Blues in Hollywood, CA.
Uli Jon Roth/Electric Sun - Fire Wind (Griffin/Castle) 1981
1. "Cast
Away Your Chains" (3:56)
2. "Indian Dawn" (5:16)
3. "I'll Be Loving You Always" (5:00)
4. "Fire Wind" (5:03)
5. "Predlude to Space Minor" (1:23)
6. "Just Another Rainbow" (3:54)
7. "Children of the Sea" (3:23)
8. "Chaplin And I" (5:45)
9. "Hiroshima" (10:37)
...a. Enola Gay
...b. Tune of Japan
...c. Attack
...d. Lament
I have to admit that while I love Uli Roth's Hendrix inspired guitar playing and find the material he did with the Scorpions to be some of their best, I am not as big a fan of Uli's vocals. They just sound odd to me. However, I still enjoy listening to his solo material and have grown accustomed to the vocals over the years. Without a doubt Jimi Hendrix is a big influence on this album, sounding like a mix of Jimi and some of those early Scorpions CDs. However, 'Fire Wind' is not a blatent attempt to sound like the Scorpions. As a matter of fact, I think Uli was trying to distance himself from his former band a bit, sounding much more ethereal and experimental. Album opener "Cast Away Your Chains" may be the exception to that rule, sounding like an attempt at a single. My favorite part of this disc is when Uli lets loose on his Fender. He is a grossly underrated guitarist.