Track Listing

1. Cloud of Unknowing
2. Running to the Ghost
3. Clouds Collapse
4. Mirror Speaks
5. Stained Glass Windows

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #38106 in Music
• Brand: Dig
• Released on: 2007-06-05
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .13 pounds

Amazon.com
Much of the new music from James Blackshaw sounds like old music from John Fahey, as the 25-year-old British guitarist channels the adventurous acoustic dynamic that the late Fahey dubbed "American primitive." The opening title cut lasts almost 11 minutes; the closing "Stained Glass Windows" lasts even longer, as an introspective instrumental reverie culminates in a mind-blowing (or blown) coda that threatens to extend forever. In between those two most expansively Faheyesque progressions, "Running to the Ghosts" has a hint of "Tubular Bells" and "Clouds Collapse" evokes a Chinese tea house, with exotic tunings and atmospherics. For all of Blackshaw's 12-string virtuosity, he occasionally crosses the line from the hypnotic to the merely repetitive, and some of his passages would be twice as effective with half the notes. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews

Brings you closer to God or whatever
Great for meditation/reflection/all that kinda lame spiritual stuff. I'm not really the type for that, but this record is just wonderful for contemplation. And the dude can PLAY. Wow.

Luscious and lovely
James Blackshaw creates a wonderful album with a real variety of songs. Clouds Collapse is somewhat spartan and maybe a bit chilly, while the other songs he really shows off how rich a guitar can sound. I think the first time I listened to the album it ran through twice without my noticing - I was wholly enraptured by its sounds.

Beautiful
First heard about this one when it was listed on NPR's list of best CDs of 2007. Gorgeous. Their comparison to John Fahey is apt.