Search - Peter Banks :: Instinct

Mott's favorite guitar album.

Kim Fletcher | Pattaya, Chonburi Thailand | 04/06/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This superb, but alarmingly underated guitarist has a fine pedigree, first coming to notice in the mid sixties in a wonderful flower power band call "Syn"with a certain Chris Squires on bass, then joined by vocalist Jon Anderson they became the marvelously monickered "Mabel Greer's Toy Shop", finding this a bit of a mouthful, and with the addition of Toy Kaye on keyboards & Bill Bruford on drums, they found instant international acclaim as "Yes". Two wonderful albums followed "Yes"& "Time and a Word" at this point Peter Banks was booted out, due to his ambitions of entertaining an audience rather than trying to educate them. (it was at this point that Mott became a fan, always wanting to have fun & cowering from education.) To this day, Yes guitarist Steve Howe, & Trevor Rabin have made a career out of copying Bank's trademark guitar licks. Peter Banks went on to form "Flash" who released 3 respectable albums, once described as "Yes music played by Thunder & Lightning", before being swamped by bad management & punk rock. After spending the eighties mainly in session work & looking for suitable musicians to work with, Peter Banks went solo in the nineties with this enchanting album "Instinct". From the opening rippling guitar chords of opening cut "No Place Home" to the final bell which closes the album your ears are held in thrall by this maestro of the six string. An Instrumental album, it always holds your attention by it's diversity and humour. (you will have to listen to the music to get that.) Satriani, Vai, and Co would give their eye teeth to put out such a fine collection of fretwork & tunes. The two central passages are track 4, "Sticky Wickets" played on a midi guitar synthesizer, which starts out funky, and then turns itself inside out to reach a shattering climax. Before you have time to push the repeat button Banks is off again with track 5, "Short Comings" totally tasteless and not at all Jazzy with a relentless four in the bar bass drum, the night of a thousand guitars with Peter Banks the fastest guitar slinger in town. The final track is "Never The Same" a moving tribute to Peter Banks's late mother. Never has such a beautiful piece of music been played on the electric guitar. If you hear this music, like me I'm sure you will be mystified why Peter Banks is not an international star. The album cover & the inside sleeve notes are worth the price of the C.D alone so you cannot lose. Dogs have superb instinct, trust this dogs instinct, and add this "Instinct" to you collection, you won't regret it. Mott the Dog."

Classic guitar album

Kim Fletcher | Pattaya Thailand | 04/13/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First released in 1993 this is astunning album of electric guitar.From the opening rippling chords of NO PLACE HOME tothe conclusion of the songs you are held in its grip. Highlights of the tracks are SHORTCOMINGS a storming number where the guitarist really tears down his guitar leaving the likes of Vai in his wake. The best is kept for last with DOMINATING FACTOR a thumping rock song that works its way into your head and stays there. The album closes with NEVER THE SAME quite simply the moost beautiful piece of music Ihave ever heard The album would be worth buying for the artwork and liner alone. I have owned this album for 7years and never tire of playing it An alltime classic although incredibley overlooked. Yes made a terrible mistake when they let Mr Banks leave their ranks"

Excellent Guitar Work

Kirk Abernathy | Philadelphia, Pa United States | 08/12/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I totally agree with Mott. Peter plays his [REAR END] off (pun intended) on this one. Wide variety of flavors-jazz,funk,rock,ambient. It's all great!"