For the uninitiated (including yours truly), guitarist Peter Hesslein helmed Lucifer’s Friend -- a Seventies-era German rock band considered early pioneers of heavy metal, doom and prog. But Hesslein’s final release in his Night Drive trilogy of instrumental albums is not solely a rock-guitar album. In fact, many different styles showcase the breadth of his playing (sort of like Lucifer’s Friend), and
his work is imbued with global musical references.
There’s little shredding or showing off here, just solid and melodic playing with all instrumentation by Hesslein that demonstrates the man’s deft understanding of craft and arrangement. For listeners missing vocals, consider “Driving All Night" -- which essentially is Fabiola Hesslein (some relation, I imagine) singing the words in the song’s title at strategic times throughout the track. Closing cut “Chapters of My Life,” meanwhile, features vocals by Mike Starrs, former lead singer of Lucifer’s Friend who sounds a bit like Roine Stolt here.
By no means is this essential listening, yet Night Drive 3 offers a worthwhile exploration into the musical mind of a guitarist who -- more than a half-century into his career -- still has something fresh to say.
Off to hear the first two Night Drive albums now...
1. This Way Home
2. Sunset Drive
3. At A Crossroads
4. Driving All Night
5. Going South
6. In The Fast Lane
7. Road of Dreams
8. On The Horizon
9. A Few More Hours
10. No Backseat Driver
11. A Warm Day’s Night
12. Faster Than a Slug
13. Exit Number 9
14. Sunrise Pit Stop
15. A Gnat In My Life
16. Chapters Of My Life
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