The late great Michael Hedges is probably my favorite guitarist of all time. Favorites on this one: Fusion of the Five Elements, Ursa Major

Track Listing

1. Torched
2. Spring Buds
3. Fusion Of The Five Elements
4. Promised Land
5. Phoenix Fire
6. Dream Beach
7. Arrowhead
8. Shell Shock Venus
9. Ursa Major
10. Free Swinging Soul
11. Rough Wind In Oklahoma
12. Sapphire
13. Gospel Of Mary/The Holy Flame
14. Lava Man
15. Free Swinging Soul (1994 Concert)

---

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #57412 in Music
• Released on: 1999-02-09
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
Torched is the album Michael Hedges was reputedly working on when he was tragically taken from us in a car wreck in November 1997. It reveals Hedges exploring his fervent desire to be a singer/songwriter, rather than the virtuoso guitarist who influenced a generation of string-pickers. Hedges played the whole guitar, not just the strings, turning it into a tribal orchestra that rendered his gorgeous and often quirky melodies. That Hedges is rarely heard on Torched. Instead Hedges's vocal side prevails. Torched is a scattered collection of nearly completed songs and rough tracks, all highlighting his spiritual search and romantic yearnings. As a singer/songwriter, Hedges was influenced by the 1960s and '70s Jackson Browne-James Taylor axis of earnest proclamations. He's even joined by '60s veterans David Crosby and Graham Nash, who added their harmonies to "Spring Buds" after Hedges passed. On the title track, he sings of spiritual transformation by fire, adding some distorted fuzz guitar to scorched effect. On "Promised Land" he waxes biblical. There are a few instrumentals as well, including "Fusion of the Five Elements," an early, triple-speed demo for the song that wound up as the title track to Oracle, Hedges's last official album. Other pieces like "Dream Beach," "Arrowhead," and "Ursa Major" would have fit comfortably on Oracle with their wistful melodies and arrangements that have Hedges playing flutes, percussion, and keyboards in addition to guitar. Posthumous albums are always problematic. We'll never know if Hedges actually wanted these tracks to be released, and over all the vocal songs don't match his more carefully articulated Road to Return vocal album from a few years back. With Torched we're left with embers from a musician who usually gave us bonfires of brilliance. --John Diliberto

From Jazziz
Michael Hedges once told writer John Stropes, "If anyone wants to lock me into the guitar pigeonhole, I'll make like a pigeon and crap on their windowsill." While Hedges brought a new sonic architecture to the acoustic guitar that stunned even his fellow guitarists, he also loved to sing. The posthumously released Torched presents the late, much-loved musician in both roles, with moving results. In progress at the time of his 1997 death from a car accident, these tracks are largely unfinished home recordings of Hedges'. In many cases though, Torched presents realized compositions, not just promising sketches; a clarity of purpose is communicated that feels whole. Many of the 14 tunes reveal what must have been a tremendous amount of work on Hedges' part. There are beautiful, overdubbed vocal harmonies on "Rough Wind in Oklahoma" and "The Holy Flame," wonderful keyboard coloration on "Sapphire," and, on "Ursa Major," a mix of gentle chords, harmonics, and sampled wind that sounds like Redwood trees strung with guitar wires, resonating in the breeze. With the sinewy power of his guitar and the direct appeal of his singing, Hedges also put grit into a singer/songwriter genre (for lack of a better term, let's call it sensitive, mystical folk) that's often characterized by a fey superficiality. He had the ability to frame emotions so they glowed with both sophisticated intelligence and primal passion, and his lyrics offered a penetrating vision that struck at the heart of meaning. this guy was truly tuned into something else.

--- JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc.

---

Customer Reviews

A few songs really stand out for me on this one
I love the sound and sense of place in "Rough Wind in Oklahoma" and in the two, very different interpretations of "Free Swinging Soul." This is a lovely album that I have listened to again and again. I highly recommend it.

A last and great gift from Michael Hedges
This is a last great gift from a musician and artist that touched the souls of all he met.

For those who are not familiar with Michael Hedges' work, please purchase as a minimum, Ariel Boundaries, and then perhaps "Live on the Double Planet." After those two albums this one will take on a greater meaning.

This album in it's unfinished state only adds to the experience, because it yeilds a small insight in to the processes from which his art emerged whole. I would have much preferred to wait for the finished album than to loose such a national treasure as Michael Hedges.

This man died far too soon, with far too much music left in his heart. I consider myself blessed indeed to have been present at a number of his concerts over the years, and to have shaken the hand of such a talented soul.

Michael, you are with us always in your music and in your gentle manner and your raging performances and your wit.

Torched
Michael Hedges was probably the most gifted writer, musician, arranger and producer in the modern music age. His inventive playing style and creative alternate tunings make his work a joy to listen to. Torched is the last work that Michael completed before his death in 1997. If you really want to hear every nuance on Torched, I suggest you listen to these two albums first: Breakfast in the Fields, Taproot, then Torched. You will hear the evolution of a player and the maturing of an arranger. I give Torched 5 stars not because I am a big fan and emulator of Michael, but because it is the best work I have ever heard.