Ray DeTone - 'Strange World'

Released on Dance Tone Music in 2001

THE BAND:
Ray DeTone -guitars
***various studio musicians***

TRACK FRAGMENTS:
1.) "Geteway" - This track kicks off with a few Steve Via/Eddy Van Halen lead tricks. The lead scales are very melodic and laid back.
2.) "Strange World" The background sampled drum pattern of this tracks intro sounds like a hammer hitting steel. This is one of the few tracks on the CD that has vocals. The guitar patterns are of an older metal style. The vocal lines through the verses are more or less spoken instead of sang. The solo is very small and has touches of an early Vai style.
3.) "Hoedown"- This instrumental is exactly what it says it is, except with a heavy metal feel. The main guitar pattern is a old square dances break down. Ray really adds a lot of fare to the song with huge lead scales and sounds. The double bass drum pattern towards the end really adds to the song.
4.) "The Journey Begins"- This instrumental has a very Rhoades influenced acoustic intro. The acoustic guitars on this track have a very distinct sound and ring. The song is arranged in an Alan Parsons's sort of way. Towards the middle of the track Ray really funks the track up a bit with a synthesizer.
5.) "Hard Ride" - With this track Ray plays a very influenced Steve Vai type rhythm. The guitar patterns are just real laid back and groove. The solo has a Jason Becker feel to it. Which is two highly respected guitar influences you don't normally hear within a song.
6.) "Untold" - This is the second track off the CD that has vocals. The song kicks off with a very simple picking acoustic pattern. The vocals are very catchy with a lot off hooks. There is a strange orchestrated section that sounds a lot like "Kasmir" by Led Zeppelin.
7.) "King's Court" - This tracks intro has an acoustic guitar rhythm, with harmonics over it. The track has a very relaxing sensation. The over dubbed lead rhythms on this one will blow you away!!
8.) "The Gypsy's Dance" -The guitar arrangement and sound on this track as a minstrel effect. The song would make a great fill in piece on a mid-evil type move.
9.) "Miles Deep" -This track has a real modern blues type sound. Ray's guitar sound just grooves over the back up music.
10.) "Suck Off" -This track opens with a real strange sounding intro. The track also has vocals, which are really just spoken words.
11.) "The Axe Swings" -This track has a Stray Cat's type sound.
12.) " Homework" - This track like a lot of the others are very Vai influenced in guitar sound. During the break down section there is a real cool acoustic guitar pattern.
13.) "Street Urchin Symphony" - This track kicks off with a drum pattern for the intro. The guitar arrangement is a lot like Jason Becker stuff.


Ray De Tone is an excellent guitarist, and this CD proves this! I feel every young aspiring guitarist out there ought to pick up a copy of not only this CD, but also his first release titled, "Once More With Feeling". A lot of times with instrumental CD, the songs are set up as small 3:00 minute solo, with back up music. But this is not the case with Ray, his writing is done as if lyric's where there. So each song as its own feeling and emotion and distinctively stand-alone.