Hard Hat Area

{{Infobox album

| name = Hard Hat Area

| type = studio

| artist = Allan Holdsworth

| cover = Allan Holdsworth - Hard Hat Area album cover.jpg

| released = {{Start date|1993}}

| recorded =

| studio = Front Page Recorders, Costa Mesa, California; The Brewery, North County, San Diego

| genre = Jazz fusion

| length = {{Duration|m=41|s=37}}

| label = Polydor

| producer = Allan Holdsworth

| prev_title = Wardenclyffe Tower

| prev_year = 1992

| next_title = None Too Soon

| next_year = 1996

| misc = {{Extra album cover

| header = Alternative cover

| type = studio

| cover = Allan Holdsworth - 1994 - Hard Hat Area.jpg

| caption = European edition

}}

Hard Hat Area is the eighth studio album by guitarist Allan Holdsworth, released in 1993 through Polydor Records (Japan), JMS–Cream Records (Europe) and Fred Bloggs Music (United Kingdom), and in 1994 through Restless Records (United States);Astarita, Glenn. [http://www.allmusic.com/album/hard-hat-area-mw0000112593 "Hard Hat Area – Allan Holdsworth"]. AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved 9 September 2014. a remastered edition with expanded liner notes was reissued on 15 May 2012 through MoonJune Records.[https://web.archive.org/web/20121107231748/http://www.moonjune.com/catalog/044_ALLAN-HOLDSWORTH_Hard-Hat-Area_MJR044/ "Allan Holdsworth: Hard Hat Area"]. MoonJune Records. Archived from [http://www.moonjune.com/catalog/044_ALLAN-HOLDSWORTH_Hard-Hat-Area_MJR044/ the original] on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2014.

Holdsworth frequently cited the album as one of his favourites.Hallebeek, Richard (11 May 1996). [http://www.richardhallebeek.com/interviews/holdsworth96.php "Allan Holdsworth (1996)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303170331/http://www.richardhallebeek.com/interviews/holdsworth96.php |date=2012-03-03 }}. richardhallebeek.com. Retrieved 9 September 2014.Douse, Cliff (December 1996). [http://www.fingerprintsweb.net/ah/press/gt1296.html "Legato Land"]. Guitar Techniques. Retrieved 9 September 2014.Staff (19 August 2004). [http://www.abstractlogix.com/interview_view.php?idno=15 "Allan Holdsworth Interview"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929001353/http://www.abstractlogix.com/interview_view.php?idno=15 |date=2011-09-29 }}. Abstract Logix. Retrieved 9 September 2014.Hoard, Christopher; Preston, Jeff (February 1994). [http://www.fingerprintsweb.net/ah/press/atavinterview.html "Allan Holdsworth: An Interview"]. The Allan Holdsworth Information Center. Retrieved 9 September 2014. "Tullio" is a reference to cycling component innovator and company founder Tullio Campagnolo.Morrison, Mike (9 February 2006). [https://web.archive.org/web/20060505190742/http://www.therealallanholdsworth.com/allansinterviewmorrison.htm "Allan Holdsworth Interview with Mike Morrison"]. therealallanholdsworth.com. Archived from [http://www.therealallanholdsworth.com/allansinterviewmorrison.htm the original] on 5 May 2006. Retrieved 16 April 2019.

Critical reception

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = All About Jazz

| rev1score = Favourable

| rev2 = AllMusic

| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}

}}

Hard Hat Area has received mostly positive reviews. John Kelman at All About Jazz called it one of Holdsworth's better solo recordings, naming "Ruhkukah" and "Low Levels, High Stakes" as highlights. He also praised the line-up of keyboardist Steve Hunt, drummer Gary Husband and bassist Skúli Sverrisson, but noted that it was sometimes difficult to distinguish between Hunt's playing and Holdsworth's SynthAxe.Kelman, John (23 March 2012). [http://www.allaboutjazz.com/allan-holdsworth-hard-hat-area-and-none-too-soon-by-john-kelman.php#.VA71hdjc3eU "Allan Holdsworth: Hard Hat Area and None Too Soon"]. All About Jazz. Retrieved 9 September 2014.

Glenn Astarita at AllMusic called the album one of Holdsworth's "better solo excursions", and "a must-have" for fans of his work. Like Kelman, he named "Ruhkukah" and "Low Levels, High Stakes" as highlights.

Track listing

{{Track listing

| all_music = Allan Holdsworth, except where noted

| title1 = Prelude

| note1 = Holdsworth, Steve Hunt

| length1 = 1:35

| title2 = Ruhkukah

| length2 = 5:34

| title3 = Low Levels, High Stakes

| length3 = 9:05

| title4 = Hard Hat Area

| length4 = 6:06

| title5 = Tullio

| length5 = 6:02

| title6 = House of Mirrors

| length6 = 7:47

| title7 = Postlude

| note7 = Holdsworth, Steve Hunt, Skúli Sverrisson, Gary Husband

| length7 = 5:28

| total_length = 41:37

}}

Personnel

Allan Holdsworth – guitar, SynthAxe, engineering, mixing, production
Steve Hunt – keyboard
Gary Husband – drums
Skúli Sverrisson – bass

Technical

Rejean de Grand'Maison – engineering
Gordon Davis – mixing
Bernie Grundman – mastering
Chris Bellman – remastering (reissue)

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20131005000908/http://www.therealallanholdsworth.com/hardhat2.htm Hard Hat Area] at therealallanholdsworth.com (archived)
[https://www.guitar9.com/column/allan-holdsworth-hard-hat-area Allan Holdsworth "Hard Hat Area"] at Guitar Nine

Category:Allan Holdsworth albums

Category:1993 albums

Category:Polydor Records albums

Category:Restless Records albums