Atavachron

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Atavachron

| type = studio

| artist = Allan Holdsworth

| cover = Allan Holdsworth - 1986 - Atavachron.jpg

| border = yes

| released = {{Start date|1986}}

| recorded =

| studio = Front Page Recorders, Costa Mesa, California

| genre = Jazz fusion

| length = {{Duration|m=36|s=52}}

| label = Enigma

| producer = Allan Holdsworth

| prev_title = Metal Fatigue

| prev_year = 1985

| next_title = Sand

| next_year = 1987

}}

Atavachron is the fourth studio album by guitarist Allan Holdsworth, released in 1986 through Enigma Records (United States) and JMS–Cream Records (Europe).Patterson, John W. [http://www.allmusic.com/album/atavachron-mw0000649565 "Atavachron - Allan Holdsworth"]. AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved 16 April 2019. It features Holdsworth's first recorded use of the SynthAxe, an instrument which would be featured prominently on his future albums. The album's title and seventh track, as well as the cover art, are references to the Atavachron alien time travel device from the Star Trek episode "All Our Yesterdays". "Funnels" refers to the three funnels of the {{RMS|Queen Mary}}.Holdsworth, Allan (1992). "The Things You See". REH Video: Allan Holdsworth. CPP Media Group. Event occurs at time 03:11–03:15.

Critical reception

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}

}}

John W. Patterson of AllMusic awarded Atavachron four stars out of five, describing it as "semi-progressive" with a "symphonic element" and praising it as "clear evidence of the genius Holdsworth was demonstrating release after release". He also highlighted the use of the SynthAxe, as well as praising the "beautiful female vocals" of Rowanne Mark, who makes her first of two appearances on a Holdsworth album; the other being Secrets (1989).

Track listing

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Allan Holdsworth, except where noted

| title1 = Non Brewed Condiment

| length1 = 3:41

| title2 = Funnels

| length2 = 6:15

| title3 = The Dominant Plague

| length3 = 5:45

| title4 = Atavachron

| length4 = 4:45

| title5 = Looking Glass

| length5 = 4:36

| title6 = Mr. Berwell

| length6 = 6:24

| title7 = All Our Yesterdays

| note7 = lyrics: Rowanne Mark

| length7 = 5:26

| total_length = 36:52

}}

Personnel

Technical

  • Robert Feist – engineering, mixing
  • Dan Humann – engineering, mixing
  • Bernie Grundmanmastering
  • Francois Bardol – cover art

References

{{Reflist}}