Artist: RUSH
Album: PRESTO REMASTERED (CD)

Release date: 1989
EAN/UPS: 0075678373626
Media type: CD

Presto is the thirteenth studio album by the Canadian rock band Rush, released in 1989 (see 1989 in music). The album was recorded at Le Studio in Morin Heights and at McClear Place in Toronto.

Presto was the band's first album with their new label Atlantic Records which the band signed to in early 1989 after the band decided not to re-new their contract with Mercury/PolyGram Records. Also, Atlantic gave Rush creative control over their future musical directions (Rush still records with Atlantic today).

Presto was intended to be co-produced with Peter Collins, who had produced the previous two studio albums, Power Windows and Hold Your Fire. However, Collins reluctantly declined the offer for personal reasons. An objective ear was found in Rupert Hine, who may have contributed to the record's relatively dark, reverb-heavy sound.

Many Rush fans will agree that Presto marks the beginning of a transition period from the synthesizer-heavy "new wave" period of the 1980s to the heavier styles of the 1990s. At the very least, synthesizers and sequencers are generally used in a more discreet fashion compared to previous records. “Chain Lightning”, "Scars", "Anagram for Mongo" and “Red Tide” still feature keyboards as a prominent instrument, but other songs like “Show Don’t Tell” and “Superconductor” are more guitar-motivated. Bass lines continue to follow the usual Rush style; a short solo is evident in “Show Don’t Tell” while “The Pass” is driven heavily by bass guitar chords.

"Scars" features a complex drum pattern in which both acoustic and electronic drums are utilized. The pattern was derived from a tribal rhythm Neil Peart experienced while on a bicycle tour of Africa (later chronicled in his first book, The Masked Rider). Peart has gone on to incorporate this pattern into his live drum solos. "Scars" also features the use of a sequencer in place of and often mistaken for a bass guitar.

According to Geddy Lee during the Rush in Rio concert, “The Pass” is one of the band’s favorite songs. "Available Light" and "Red Tide" represent some of the few Rush songs to contain significant piano usage.

TRACKLIST:

01 "Show Don't Tell" – 5:01
02 "Chain Lightning" – 4:33
03 "The Pass" – 4:51
04 "War Paint" – 5:24
05 "Scars" – 4:07
06 "Presto" – 5:45
07 "Superconductor" – 4:47
08 "Anagram (for Mongo)" – 4:00
09 "Red Tide" – 4:29
10 "Hand Over Fist" – 4:11
11 "Available Light" – 5:03

All music by Lee and Lifeson with lyrics by Peart.

LINE-UP:

Geddy Lee - bass guitar, synthesizers, vocals
Alex Lifeson - electric and acoustic guitars
Neil Peart - drums, percussion

Rupert Hine - additional keyboards