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Complex, but not mathematically so
Steve Morse appears on the latest episode of the
Now Spinning Magazine podcast, talking with Phil Aston mostly about his latest album Triangulation.
In this episode of the Now Spinning Magazine podcast, I sit down with legendary guitarist Steve Morse to dive deep into his new instrumental album Triangulation.
Steve talks about the freedom of making a record with no industry expectations, the almost telepathic musical connection he shares with Dave LaRue, and how tracks like “Too Many Parts” grew into ambitious, multi-section odysseys.
He also opens up about the deeply personal closing piece “Taken by an Angel”, recorded with his son Kevin in memory of Steve’s late wife – a story of grief, love and hope told entirely through melody.
We discuss adapting his technique as his hands change with age, why melody now matters more than ever in his writing, and how guest appearances from John Petrucci and Eric Johnson came together.
If you’re a fan of Steve Morse, Deep Purple, Dixie Dregs, or you’re a guitarist who loves thoughtful, emotional instrumental music, this conversation is a must-listen.
Thanks to Mike Whiteley for the heads-up.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
Phil’s sincere enthusiasm for (and understanding of) Steve‘s new album is infectious and heartwarming. And I agree with his ranking of Triangulation as one of the best Morse solo albums. If you think you need just one Steve Morse album in your collection, then this likely the one to seek out
Trivial fact: Who designed the shape (and other aspects) of the slightly angular yet elegant and futuristic Ernie Ball Music Man Bongo basses Dave LaRue nearly always plays (and even had a hand in fully developing from prototype stage)?
https://www.radialeng.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/dave-larue-profile.jpg
Answers on a postcard!
PS: Googling it is cheating!
https://blog.music-man.com/featured-category/the-history-of-the-bongo-bass-a-collaboration-with-bmws-designworks/
Alas!, another case of “Am deutschen Wesen soll die Welt genesen!”
And it actually does look like BMW design speak.
December 1st, 2025 at 16:17I think it sounds and looks great that bass guitar of Dave’s. And talking of custom made bass guitars, Les Claypool and the Carl Thompson guitars. A wonderful interview with Rick Beato and Les, humorous (as always) and very musical (of course) and plenty of bass guitar talk and playing etc Uwe, if you have not already watched that. Cheers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDdHdKtD-uM
https://ctbasses.com/players/les-claypool
December 2nd, 2025 at 08:30I never could latch onto the music of Primus – too hectic, I think you need to be of a certain young age to like it in the 90s -, but Les Claypool is of course a true original and an intelligent man. But in general, I prefer melodic and harmonic bass to percussive one (which dates me, I know), not a great fan of slap bass either unless it is extremely sparsely and tastefully done.
I loved Primus’ cover of this Charlie Daniels Band classic (plus the brilliant stop motion vid of it!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9uk9IcoQ0w
but of course it is hardly representative for their own music.
December 2nd, 2025 at 23:44Not a Primus follower in that sense, I don’t own any of their music but I really respect their take on that original style and being an ex drummer, I can dig a lot of those rhythmic grooves they get into live in concert. That 2004 Hallucino- Genetics live dvd is a blast. However as you said Uwe, they are intense and after an hour or so I have to get out of there. They are a rhythmic jamming band, not a melodic song band at all to my ears. A feel band and Claypool as he says is a narrator more than a singer. Cheers.
December 3rd, 2025 at 10:09I have “known” Steve since ’78 where I listened to Free Fall with Dixie Dregs and found it new and refreshing (especially Ice Cakes).
Now this new record I think there is only a couple of songs worth listening to the rest is same old same old.
December 3rd, 2025 at 12:13Every musician and artist has their own go to ‘habits’. This latest Steve Morse Band album is just that, that is who he is along with the other two musicians Dave and Van. Everyone does it, the more time moves on, the more they cannot escape their past. We humans are creatures of habit, say no more. Uwe proclaiming this as the album that some may latch onto as Steve’s best, well, many artists themselves usually say their latest work is just that. Not that Steve is saying that. That is the ‘retainer’ that Uwe is receiving from the record company again, sheesh, how did the Hornung character land a job like that? I wish I could, but then again, I don’t have the gift of the gab, he he he he. Very very hard to escape that earlier music of Steve Morse, The Dregs, and the early SMB. Everything was fresh, new and the musicians were younger, hungrier etc. This new album is a good sounding album full of positivity, excitement and enjoyment and it does sound more appealing to me than the last few SMB albums. Good luck to Steve, Van and Dave, a job well done. Now where is my retainer? Cheers.
December 3rd, 2025 at 21:15Uwe #1 agreed. I am really enjoying triangulation. I wasn’t convinced on early listening to the pre-released pieces but am now totally converted. Rejuvenated DP with Simon Maccers and Morse finding a new mojo … it’s working out well, isn’t it?
December 3rd, 2025 at 21:33Perhaps the best thing I like about the new album is how it makes me feel and it’s excellent, yet organic production. It is not Steve reinventing himself or SMB, just a bloody well-crafted album.
Sadly, Steve hasn’t offered me payments yet. He said he thought about it, but then read some of my wardrobe comments … darn! Me and my big mouth.
December 3rd, 2025 at 23:36@ 8 – ha ha ha, those shirt comments Uwe, I knew they would come back and haunt you. Yes the new album does sound really good. I do need to listen to it a little more to get into the music and arrangements etc. Cheers.
December 4th, 2025 at 09:41Oh I just love me some hunks with muscle shirts, whether they’re called Rick,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9zVOhQCYTE
Russ or Steve!
Honorary mention:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02279/lord_organ_2279148b.jpg?imwidth=960
https://rocknews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Ian_Paice_2005.jpg
https://preview.redd.it/ian-gillan-1971-deep-purple-released-fireball-that-year-and-v0-lj923me78tea1.jpg?width=320&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=9c348db4553ca8505c5951b617d64de24a8a2f59
https://c8.alamy.com/comp/W3Y2TP/deep-purple-uk-rock-group-with-roger-glover-at-long-beach-arena-on-april-15-1973-in-long-beach-california-photo-jeffrey-mayer-W3Y2TP.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/474x/f1/5f/df/f15fdf71bc1dd0374e8000e04263aeac.jpg
https://preview.redd.it/ritchie-blackmore-live-1971-v0-h2odz9fr07ye1.jpeg?width=1080&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=e9370d1cc22b121f294fa3ee0f4e7a8633a3dec3
https://www.dpac.at/dps_evans3.jpg
December 5th, 2025 at 01:13Uwe, it’s OK… I understand. 🫂 You’re just lashing out because you don’t look good in a sleeveless tee or tank top. 😎
December 5th, 2025 at 08:48Ah yesss, envy and jealousy devour my entrails!
December 5th, 2025 at 12:50@12
“envy and jealousy devour my entrails”
Maybe Karin can recommend something to cure that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkqGl4FV5aI
December 5th, 2025 at 19:30@ 13 – I am sure Karin already has concocted a brew or three since commenting here Russ. Especially since bumping into Uwe, he he he. I am not suggesting anything untoward Karin, just joking of sorts……………….sort of………………..now where are those frog legs and a little Datura to boot……….or should that be Deadly Nightshade…….we have plenty of choices, sorry Karin has plenty………Cheers.
December 6th, 2025 at 21:14Alas!, though speaketh my deepest fears so well, Tasmanian dweller! Nightmares torment my soul about this woman of the inhospitable North’s evil schemes and doings!
https://youtu.be/13WWN6rhxM4
December 7th, 2025 at 01:05