'Mustang Run' is what an instrumental album should be.

Not knowing much about Supertramp besides their hits in the 1970s and that they are still touring (albeit without all the original members), I was a bit surprised about this album. It is the work of Carl Verheyen and an instrumental one at that (apart from one song – more about that later) but more on the Steve Vai side of a virtuoso performance than my imaginings of a Supertramp related album.

Verheyen is clearly a master of the guitar and his outlet for studio recordings in the past has been the Carl Verheyen Band. In this case though, it is a solo album with him calling in some big names such as Simon Phillips (Toto), Gregg Bissonette (Vai, Joe Satriani) on drums and Jim Cox on keyboards.

As for the tracks, instrumental music can be hard to get into but not in this case. This has very accessible music throughout with a mixture of styles from Boogie to Blues to "out-there" Space Rock. The stellar array of guest musicians add to the event and the keyboards are very upfront especially in the case of Cox on the Hammond. In addition, a version of Supertramp's 'Bloody Well Right' from 1974's 'Crime Of The Century' is included with Supertramp members Jesse Siebenberg and John Helliwell taking part in the recording.

This is an enjoyable album and is worthy of many a revisit. 'Mustang Run' is what an instrumental album should be.

Rob McKenzie