近日，从Steve Vai官方信息得知，这位传奇的吉他大师将于8月14日发布他的新专辑《The Story of Light》，这是它的第十六张个人唱片，将在他自己的厂牌Favored Nations唱片发行。
七年之前的Real Illusions Reflections（2005）
新专辑封面：
看新专辑封面可知，这张专辑将延续他2005年发布的专辑《Real Illusions: Reflections》所叙述的故事。
“我总是在不断的探求知识，我是一个精神平衡的探索者。音乐是这其中的很大一部分，”对于专辑的主题，Steve Vai说道，“这些年里，我非常执迷于这些想法。”
据透露：未来的日子这个故事将还会有三部曲，即是还可能再出一张专辑延续！七年之前，Vai 集合了 David Bowie，Annie Lennox，Lenny Kravitz，Madonna 一众天皇巨星，为他写下的一个形容精神病看世界故事录音的庞大计划，虽然最后亦是因档期问题而无法完成，但並未減退其野心，Vai 一众決定独力完成這个计划，成为了 “Real Illusions:Reflections”专辑，亦是个個故事的开始！
七年之后，Vai再次延续这个故事，这张拥有12首歌的专辑里面包含了大量的乐器演奏，不过同时也有Beverly McClellan和Aimee Mann所贡献的人声部分，他们的演唱将出现在这张专辑的歌曲《No More Amsterdam》中。音乐灵感来自蓝调歌手Blind Willie Johnson！
目前专辑已可以在网上预订，具体见www.Vai.com，当中还有部分单曲供下载！”Gravity Storm.”
新专辑成员：Dave Weiner (guitar吉他), Jeremy Colson (drums鼓), Philip Bynoe (bass), and Deborah Hensen (harp竖琴, vocals人声, keyboards健盘).
专辑包括铂金版、豪华特别版、普及版：据说铂金版目前的预售价是49.99美元，内容包括CD、The Story of Light 故事明信片、一套Vai签名的吉他图册（32页的小册）、一个Vai采访The Story of Light 这个故事的DVD记录片，还有7” Vinyl containing two tracks from the new album “John the Revelator” & “Book of The Seven Seals” （这个我不懂翻译）！而豪华特别版的预售价也要49.99美元，内容包括特别版DVD影像、32页的小册子、“Gravity Storm” 的音频光盘！普及版正版售价是9.99美元！
原文：
The Story of Light has been a work in progress for the past 7 years preceeding Real Illusions: Reflections as the newest studio album since then. As of August 14th, part 2 of the Real Illusions story will be officially available for all the world to embrace. While there is still much yet to be revealed about The Story of Light, there are a few details that have been canonized.
The album will have 12 songs, mostly instrumental as expected, though there will be some female vocals performed by Beverly McClellan and Aimee Mann on a song called “No More Amsterdam”. The title of the 7th song on the track, the slot for Vai’s trademark ballad on each of his albums, has also been revealed to be “Mullach A’TSi”.
Album Options
Platinum Package
The platinum package, in addition to the audio CD, includes a 7” vinyl featuring two songs (“John the Revelator” and “Book of The Seven Seals”), 3 plantable The Story of Light seeded postcards, a set of Steve Vai signature guitar picks, a 32 page booklet, a special edition DVD with a yet to be seen interview with the man himself talking about The Story of Light.
Also available is a digital copy of the album as well as an instantly available for download copy of “Gravity Storm”. The asking price for this version is $49.99.
Special Edition Deluxe CD
The special edition includes the 32 page booklet, the special edition interview DVD, a digital copy of the album, and “Gravity Storm” as an instantly available track to accompany the audio CD. All of this can be yours for $24.99.
Digital Package
The digital package offers a digital download of The Story of Light with “Gravity Storm” being available off the bat. The requested compensation for this version is $9.99.
A Quick Sample
While you’re here why not take a moment to enjoy this YouTube video of “Gravity Storm”? I’ve already sampled it about 10 times.