Search - Jonas Hellborg, Shawn Lane :: Time Is the Enemy

Take a bow, gentlemen!

Guybert | 07/05/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wow! Another awesome album from the men who gave us "Temporal Analogues of Paradise." The focus seems to be slightly more on Shawn Lane than on the their last album, but that's just fine with me. He is one of the coolest players I've ever heard (and I've heard a LOT). He uses a more mellow jazz-type tone, but he can tear it up with the best of them (Too bad his solo album "Powers of Ten" is out of print). Jeff Sipe also does an excellent job as usual on drums, though he doesn't get as many spotlights on this one. Jonas is as rock-steady as ever and the sound level on his bass is definitely higher than on the last one. As for the songs themselves, holy mac! Everything they do is fresh and original and cover a broad spectrum; from slow and moody to fast and furious. This is an amazing album and can be appreciated by young and old alike."

Shawn, The Swede, and Sipe Strike Again

Jeff Arenson | Colorado Springs, CO United States | 03/07/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I wish that four and a half stars was an option so that I could give them to "Time is the Enemy". This release falls somewhere inbetween "Abstract Logic" and "Temporal..." because the songs are somewhat improvised (obviously the solos are pure improv) but there seems to be some form of structure for each song that the improv is derived from. The disc ,for the most part, is Jonas laying down a slap-laden bass line, Sipe joining in and then Shawn and Jonas playing leads over the rhythm. "Heretics" follows this formula and Shawn even plays some pentatonic and other bluesy scales during his solo, and then Jonas simply slaps his bass silly. "Wherever You Walk" also follows the same formula. Jonas and Sipe establish a groove and Shawn plays over it, then Jonas slaps out again, and finally another groove is established for Shawn to play to. The improv in Shawn's soloing also has some Blues/Rock roots and provides evidence that Shawn has influences other than Mclaughlin and Holdsworth. "Space Time Continuum" is more of the same but Shawn plays in a different style than on the previous tunes. "King's Letter" is more of the same formula to which Shawn and Jonas fly over. "Barua a Soldini" has Jonas soloing first in his slap mode and then Shawn lets loose with an amazing solo. The highlight of this disc is the title track. It is really a live/extended version of "Stellar Rays" from Michael Shrieve's "Two Doors" disc. It starts out with a Holdsworthesque chord progresion, then Jonas and Sipe lock together and Shawn lets loose. The playing by Shawn on this is beyond description but I'll try anyways. Insane, boderline impssible, ridiculous,etc. are all adjectives that could describe Shawn pulling out all of the stops. This jam is something that every Shawn fan should hear and is worth the price of the disc by itself. Shawn and Jonas are their usual selves on this disc but there isn't nearly as much room given to Sipe as there was on their previous effort. "Time is the Enemy" is not as much of a complete band effort as "Temporal.." but it is still another example of fusion done right."

Sickeningly good!

Jeff Arenson | 05/26/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Man, Shawn Lane is so good it's sickening. If you dont have this, youre missing out bigtime. This is by far the best fusion Ive heard since Holdsworth's Secrets CD and Im sure its only gonna get better. Keep your eye on Shawn Lane cause hes the best player Ive heard in years. Im going to get his video "Power Solos" too, I cant wait, and either should you, musician or not! Out of 5 stars it deserves 6!"