With 150 minutes plus of classic Holdsworth across 28 cuts, gnarly-bloke fans could hardly ask for more, right? Well this is just the teaser: Manifesto have actually boxed all 12 of Holdworth's 1982-2003 solo works. The set's title of The Man Who Changed Guitar Forever may make the Bradford boy grimace, but it's hard to argue with, especially with its echo of Scotty Moore's classic album, with Moore being a boyhood icon of Holdsworth's. However, for those who want Holdsworth-lite (like there is such a thing), Eidolon is a damn fine place to start. The programming is a little curious: cuts from I.O.U, Road Games and Metal Fatigue, his ground-breaking first releases come deep into the second CD, but what a pleasure it is to fall across the coruscating intro to ‘Metal Fatigue’ or the long joyous lines of ‘Letters of Marque’. But it's also important that the first CD opens with cuts from The Sixteen Men of Tain, with it's radically different sound. This features Holdsworth's last major trio project and his immersion – and mastery – of a ‘softer’ synth guitar complete with those elegantly extended legato lines breathtaking to behold. Rumours that Mr Holdsworth may yet record, indeed perform, abound. Let's keep hoping.