Album Notes

This album is a compilation of original, instrumental; shred-type songs that I recorded through the late 1990s to 2011 in Los Angeles, Seattle, and in the Bigfoot infested mountains of Washington state. Except for my amazing friends who play drums, I played, produced and engineered the whole thing.

I’m a hopeless and admitted Trekkie and am considering rehab, but not sure if it will help. I titled this album after a Klingon device that scans a mind, and afterwards, there isn’t much left. Vulcans for some reason are able to endure the Mindscanner with few ill effects, but if you are not Vulcan, watch out. This device is from the “Errand of Mercy”, episode #26, featuring the Orgainians. One of my favorite Orgainian lines: “Yes, please leave us Captain, the mere presence of beings such as yourself, is intensely painful to us.” See what I mean, I’m hopeless.

By the way the little girl’s voice on the title cut, Mindscanner, is my daughter Hannah from back in the '90s. She’s now a college student but I’m pretty sure, the Martians still do come at night.

The main drummer on this album is Mike Snyder who has a Masters Degree in hitting things with a stick. Really! I met Mike at Roland where he’s an electronic drum guru, but all his drums here are non-electronic, normal kits.

Mike is famous for doing the percussion on TV shows including "Home Improvement" and all the Mel Brooks movies. “Men in Tights” is one of my favorites. Mike's drums on Avy Blower, Bedlam Sam, Win Win Situation, Mission to Mars and Mach Rocks were recorded at his beautiful house in the forests of Portland Oregon.

The drums on the ballad, "Kiss From the Heart" were played by "Texas" Tim Root, at Tim’s house just outside San Antonio, Texas. Tim talks just like his buddy Billy Gibbons, and Tim is the only guy I know who has had an impromptu jam with Pink Floyd. BTW, Tim played electronic drums. My wife Kim’s initials are KH, (Kiss, Heart), this song is dedicated to her. We’ve been married for over 30 years.

Mindscanner, Jet Bird and Galloping Girtie feature Chad Sanford on drums and I recorded him at my house in the desert outside of Los Angeles. Chad, wherever you are, thanks! Shoot me an email.

This album took a while because most of the time I was working full time for either Musician’s Institute or Roland and Boss. Check out my podcasts at www.bossus.com/podcasts and my tone index for Boss pedals at www.bossus.com/tone.

Visit me at www.paulhanson.net -sign up for my FREE “Tips & Tricks” for guitar players at www.ShredGuitarOnline.com