Like the magicians of yore who invented chess playing automata that could defeat grandmasters, Metheny's Orchestrion is a creation of wonder, though one may equally wonder, er, why? As Metheny admits, the idea of a machine that can play a range of instruments – Metheny can fire off piano, percussion, drums, you name it, to accompany his various (and often looped) guitars – dates back to player pianos and mechanical orchestras of the 19th century. It makes him the fabbest one-man band ever and must save a fortune in beer and curry for the sidemen afterward (and the drummer never turns up smashed). What it allows Metheny to do is build up layers of sound, and no modern guitarist is more fascinated by harmony, so we are very much in Metheny-land, with ever spiraling harmonies and rhythms building around the man's own lyrical guitar leads. But ultimately the drum parts are simply repetitions, not grooves, and the keys sound especially soul-less. But this is a live recording and credit to Metheny as he rides his musical mount like Ben-Hur atop his four horses galloping round the Collosseum: there's no stopping him and for sheer bravery, (and ego), you have to tip your hat to the man. Metheny fans will be awestruck, others may more crudely mutter: “Shut up and play your guitar.”