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Dallas Perkins — Experimental Truth
(D Mania DM 3977, 2021, CD)

by Jon Davis, Published 2023-12-14

Experimental Truth Cover art

Before this album arrived, I was unfamiliar with Dallas Perkins, but he’s had a successful career as a session player and guitar instructor. That background tells you that technical facility is likely to be part of the equation, and on Experimental Truth that’s certainly the case. I wouldn’t say the music is experimental in any way, however. It’s just really well done creative playing in the flashy vein that is represented by such guitarists as Steve Vai, Scott Henderson, Joe Satriani, and so on. These nine instrumental rock tunes range from tasty acoustic picking and atmospheric effect-laden solo spots to power-trio workouts, and Perkins holds his own impressively, clearly in the major league when it comes to technique. Perkins himself handles both guitar and bass duties, and two different drummers (Fernando Jaramillo and David “Chilli” Moremo) contribute. Perkins lists his primary influences as Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, Steve Howe, and Ritchie Blackmore, with the Howe coming out primarily in the acoustic track “In Via Domum,” which blends Classical and folk styles in a way similar to Howe. The opening track is called “Beck Street,” which almost certainly alludes to another of his heroes. For my money, Perkins manages to nail the balance between shredding and tasteful expression, and some of the upbeat tunes are a blast to hear: “Beck Street,” “Jagwired,” and “Dynamic Equilibrium.” Extra parts, both guitar and keyboards, are used sparingly but to good effect to broaden the timbres. There is no shortage of flashy guitarists in the world, but Dallas Perkins has his own take on how it should be done, one worth noting for guitar lovers.

Filed under: New releases, 2021 releases

Related artist(s): Dallas Perkins

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