Philip Sayce - Peace Machine album review

There are times in life when you find something you can't believe you've been without your entire existence until that point. For me, at this moment, that something is the music of Philip Sayce; the Blues Rock maestro with the playability of Jimi Hendrix with a touch of Stevie Ray Vaughan, and trust me, that's no exaggeration.

Sayce's first album with Warner, Influence

I was tuned into Planet Rock last Sunday evening, listening to the 'My Planet Rocks' programme whose guest was South African Blues man, Dan Patlansky. I had heard of this guitar-smith but not paid much, if any, close attention to his music. It was another man's music, though, that caught my ear during the programme. Patlansky was asked by presenter, Wyatt Wendels, to reveal his final song which was Out Of My Mind from Sayce's 2015 album, Influence. I was absolutely astounded, knocked back, and left with my mouth gapping! What on earth was that?! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKJaeAcElEo

I was so enthused I jumped straight onto my computer in search of the musical wonders I had just adhered to. The first thing I came across was in fact Influence, a delicious mix of Blues, jazz, hard rock, and more commercialised blues tracks. However, diving into his back catalogue I stumbled across the golden nugget that is Peace Machine.



Sayce's first album, 2009's Peace Machine

The cover itself gives you an idea of it's theme - hard blues rock with a late 60s, Hendrix, psychedelic flavour. There are 15 tracks (if you include Arianrhod, the bonus track), all of which take elements of classic blues rock - Hendrix, SRV - and incorporates in modern twists to give a similar style to that of contemporary blues master, Joe Bonamassa. Although I would argue Sayce plays with a bit more attack and with a harder edge than Bonamassa.

You certainly get a great plethora of different styles on this album. All I Want, for example, is as close to Hendrix as it's possible to get, and then, conversely, we have Alchemy, an extremely laid back instrumental that just listening to will make you melt into whatever you're sitting on. However, the highlight has to be song which gives the album it's title. Peace Machine is an 11 minutes Blues Rock romp that channels Hendrix so much, you'd be forgiven for thinking it was one of his own. The guitar work is simply mesmerising too, combining shredded blues solos and calmer SRV-like tones - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLH6AyuV0sw

A notable difference between Sayce and Bonamassa is the style of playing. Bonamassa takes care of his instrument, carefully caressing every note and nuance. Sayce on the other hand thrashes his guitar until it literally screams. There are points on many Peace Machine tracks where the feedback, fuzz and whammy effects literally take over the resonance of the actual notes being played and create a swirling miasma of stunning technique and innovation.

Verdict - 10/10
If you're a fan of the Blues, Hendrix, SRV, you simply have to get this album or at the very least just listen to it. I guarantee it will blow your mind!