Natural Timbre

Released in 2001, Natural Timbre represents a significant milestone in Steve Howe's solo discography, serving as a definitive statement on his acoustic identity. While Howe had always included acoustic interludes in his work with Yes (such as 'The Clap' or 'Mood for a Day'), this album is a sustained, 18-track exploration of the acoustic medium. The recording is notable for its 'no-electric' rule, utilizing a vast array of stringed instruments including 6 and 12-string guitars, classical guitars, mandolins, banjos, and pedal steel. The tracklist includes several 'acoustic translations' of Yes classics like 'Your Move', 'Disillusion', and 'To Be Over', alongside original compositions that lean into folk, baroque, and country-blues traditions. Critically, the album was praised for its crystalline production and for showcasing Howe's versatility beyond the progressive rock genre. It stands as a companion piece to his earlier 'The Steve Howe Album', but with a more focused, pastoral aesthetic that avoids the fusion and rock elements of his 1970s solo output.