HOWE MELODIC

AS A GUITARIST, STEVE HOWE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TEAM PLAYER. BUT ON HIS NEW SOLO ALBUM, LOVE IS, HE CONDUCTS THE MELODY ON HIS OWN AND SINGS LEAD ON MOST OF THE SONGS.

- MIKE GREENBLATT

By his own estimation, guitarist Steve Howe has been in 10 bands, the most famous of which, Yes, in ’69, started without him. His debut on the band’s third record, in 1971, though, was the one that catapulted Yes into the stratosphere. For the next 49 years, Howe, in whatever project drew his attention, has been one of the most significant, unerring, thrilling, complex and entertainingly satisfying lead guitarists in all of progressive rock.

Now comes his 13th solo album, Love Is (BMG Records), his first in nine years. It’s not the progressive jazz-rock fusion instrumental blockbuster that he’s totally capable. It’s mellow. It’s melodic. And he sings lead on five of the 10 songs.

It was an honor to finally speak with him and, as a lifelong fan, this longtime music journalist just had to gush a bit.

GOLDMINE: This new album is very melodic. You’ve written some melodies that stick in your brain long after the music stops. Was it your intention to write so melodically?

STEVE HOWE: No, not at all. My intention was simply to get some very good material together in building a solid album. There was never any particular focus on melody, though. Maybe it’s just me liking that style more in my own solo work when I write. It delights me that you think that.

GM: You also have some very profound lyrical themes as well on this album in an environmental sense. I love the quote from (naturalist) Alexander Humboldt where he warns over 200 years ago about destroying the planet. Boy, was he right!