Short Reviews [Steve Bonino - 2023 - "Electric"]

Here is the second of the two compilations, this time credited to The Steve Bonino Project as opposed to Steve Bonino, and released on Peacock Sunrise Records’ sister label, Melodic Revolution Records, to differentiate it even more. This set includes seven remixes, two songs (out of the 18) which only appear on this release plus one from the forthcoming ‘Stargazer 3’ (note, there are no tracks included from the first two ‘Stargazer’ albums). Again Jimmy Keegan is heavily involved, and I note that fellow Spock’s Beard member Ryo Okomuto also plays on one track. When Steve is performing in an acoustic style with gentle vocals that is the style I feel he is most suited to, but then put on this belter with its mix of prog and commercial AOR style rock and his more powering vocals and one must rethink that as it appears this crossover prog with electric guitars is where he is most at home. Steve has an innate ear for hooks, and they are throughout this release. The only place where it sometimes suffers is where Steve programmed the drums as opposed to getting Jimmy involved, but given this is a collection of tracks from a decade and not from a single set one can understand why that is the case: it is just that Jimmy adds a great deal to the songs he plays on, and they obviously have a wonderful relationship. Just listen to the interplay as Steve cranks out the riff and funky bass on “Dyin’ For Love” where one can imagine everyone involved to be playing with a smile on their faces. Given it is just Jimmy on drums, Steve on everything else, then the two of them plus Pascale Elia on vocals it is simply remarkable as this comes across as a top-class band bouncing off each other in the studio. Steve has a knack for ensuring his songs never sound as if it is just him or with just a few others, but that it is a group who are cooking up a storm. It is difficult to pick a favourite between the two releases, but to my ears I think ‘Acoustic’ just pips ‘Electric’, but it is not by much, and you owe it to your ears to get both and see if I’m right. Two great sets from a wonderful songwriter and musician.