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Since 1980, Daryl Stuermer has been regarded as an integral part of Genesis’ live shows. This exceptional musician from Milwaukee, Wisconsin has played guitar and bass for the supergroup since the ‘And Then There Were Three’ tour. He also later performed alongside Phil Collins both in the studio and on stage. Stuermer has co-written with Collins (‘Something Happened On The Way To Heaven’), and has contributed to the solo output both of Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford. After the ‘Invisible Touch’ tour in 1987, Stuermer recorded his first solo album ‘Steppin’ Out’. Since then he has released his own albums on a regular basis – ‘Go’ is his ninth release to date.

While in the past Stuermer has explored contemporary jazz and combined ‘lighter’ pieces with mid-tempo rock dominated by nylon string guitar, “Go” sees him completely dedicated to a rockier electric guitar sound. The songs are still very melodic but are more riff oriented and offer an edgy ‘live’ sound this time out.

“I always let my current feelings slip into my compositions”, explains Stuermer. “On each album I have a certain point-of-view and I carry with it particular sounds and a specific mood. On ‘Go’ I let things ‘roll’ a little bit more than in the past, as I wanted to reach new shores. There are similar approaches on my earlier releases too, but never so much as with this one. My motto is, ‘On your marks, get set, go!’ and then with full power out of the speakers! There are only two ballads on ‘Go’ but even they are seething with an underlying energy”.

Stuermer’s words sum up the music extremely well. If we were to elaborate further, one can say that listeners could expect virtuoso instrumental guitar music that has elements of both Al Di Meola and Allan Holdsworth. The album has a fun vibe to it with plenty of striking hook lines, energetic riffs, catchy melodies and fluid guitar solos. Sometimes it leans more towards jazz (‘Striker’) and other times there are stronger elements of prog (‘Urbanista’), and Stuermer is also quite proud to showcase the influences he has gained from his time with Collins & Co. on ‘Heavy Heart’, a track with a melancholy feel that also recalls Dire Straits.

There is also a multi-cultural element to be found on ‘Go’ with Caribbean rhythms or melodies from the Far East as evidenced on ‘Masala Mantra’. “Masala is the name given to various spice mixtures that are used to make Indian curries. I have always liked Far Eastern music – not to mention Indian cuisine, especially Chicken Tikka Masala”, he continues while explaining the ethnic touches in his music picked up from his numerous journeys around the world.

Stuermer is once again ably supported by his long-time and highly skilled collaborators John Calarco (dr), Eric Hervey (b) and the Petersburg Kostia (b) as well as Leland Sklar with whom he worked in Phil Collins’ band. Whether the aforementioned guys will have the opportunity to perform ‘Go’ live with Stuermer still remains to be seen as Stuermer is currently booked-out with the forthcoming Genesis reunion tour. “Maybe I will do a solo tour once again after this Genesis tour”, he says. One can only hope.