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. "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."Allan Holdsworth: Hard Hat Area". MoonJune Records. Archived from 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). "Allan Holdsworth (1996)" . richardhallebeek.com. Retrieved 9 September 2014.Douse, Cliff (December 1996). "Legato Land". Guitar Techniques. Retrieved 9 September 2014.Staff (19 August 2004). "Allan Holdsworth Interview" . Abstract Logix. Retrieved 9 September 2014.Hoard, Christopher; Preston, Jeff (February 1994). "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). "Allan Holdsworth Interview with Mike Morrison". therealallanholdsworth.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2006. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
Critical reception
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). "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
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 Hard Hat Area at therealallanholdsworth.com (archived) Allan Holdsworth "Hard Hat Area" at Guitar Nine