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Steve Vai remains an eclectic rogue in the world of guitar virtuosos. While his staggering chops precede him, Vai is known for favoring artistic, emotional expression over blazing six-string shredding just for its own sake. With an ensemble that includes bassist Billy Sheehan, drummer Jeremy Colson, and percussionist Gregg Bissonette, Vai presents his first new studio work since 1999's THE ULTRA ZONE. REAL ILLUSIONS: REFLECTIONS is the first chapter in a trilogy of concept albums. Vai offers a cryptic outline of a spiritual journey, with a well-balanced combination of all-instrumental and vocal tracks (with Vai himself ably handling singing duties). "Firewall" employs a meaty horn section for a slice of electrified neo-funk. "Lotus Feet" teams Vai with Holland's Metropole Orkest and electric-bass heavyweight Bryan Beller. The overall result is ethereal and lyric in its presentation. Vai's wild imagination runs amok on REAL ILLUSIONS, which entrances listeners with its almost limitless vistas.
