Among the current crop of acoustic guitar phenoms, James Blackshaw has always remained one of our favorites. His Important debut O True Believers grabbed the attention of RSTB with a mix of complexity and grace. Following a move to a few other labels including the venerable Tompkins Square and some rather intricate works for Michael Gira's Young God, Blackshaw has returned to his roots at Important. Preceded by a stunning EP, this new album is a hushed and somber piece of work. Love is the Plan, The Plan is Death sees James employing his usual mix of nylon and ...

(Tompkins Square, 2011) If I'm going to use one word to describe William Tyler's debut solo album, Behold the Spirit , it's going to be luxurious , I think.  Or, more simply, satisfaction .  But that doesn't really get at the heart of it, the richness of it; to say, simply, that it satisfies--it undersells it.  But by luxury, also, I don't want to imply that Behold the Spirit is, in some off-handed way, disposable.  It's in-between these terms, satisfying, as does water, but luxuriously (the most luxurious thing I drink is probably orange juice (albeit, expensive ...

Según podemos leer en Exclaim! el guitarrista y pianista James Blackshaw publicará un nuevo EP el próximo 24 de abril. Se titulará Love Is the Plan, the Plan Is Death, contendrá seis nuevos temas y será editado por Important Records. Al parecer la inspiración para los cortes que componen este sencillo le ha venido al artista inglés de las novelas de la escritora de ciencia ficción James Tiptree, Jr. El piano es el principal protagonista de sus canciones instrumentales, llenas de minimalismo, suaves melodías y ricas armonías. Aunque todavía no...

Dutch lutenist Jozef Van Wissem has always lent a unique strain of spirituality to the acoustic folk song. His ability to skirt the lines of Baroque and experimental, edging one genre into the folds of the other, has long been lauded and it’s been celebrated in the entirety of his catalog. Here Van Wissem hooks up with previous collaborator Jim Jarmusch, a pairing that seems on paper an abstract connection if Jarmusch's credit is seen only as a filmmaker. In truth Jarmusch's guitar playing is sorely under appreciated and here it adds a stormy dissonance to Concerning ...

Is it ages since we listened to some James Blackshaw together? I don't know, but it seems like it. Here's something from his 2006 album O True Believers . I guess this is pretty much the start of his attempt to blend together folk music, minimalism and mysticism. Spiralling Skeleton Memorial is a fluid, shimmering thing. It spins blindfolded with only the warmth of the sun to keep it oriented. Don't claim to see the connection between all of Blackshaw's odd Christian references and 12-string guitar playing, but I'm sure churches would have more luck with ...

Artist: James Blackshaw Album: Love Is the Plan, the Plan Is Death Release Date: April 24 Label: Important Records

There are only two songs on this EP, but like portions in a three star restaurant, what is missed in quantity is more than made up in sublime quality. "Holly" is the latest by guitar master James Blackshaw, and he expresses some of his most beautiful moments here. Maybe not his best, since his best is among the best solo acoustic work of the last fifty years, but it is close. The title track builds from a somber phrase to deepening colors, a light Indian melody mingling with echoing haunting chords. This is emotional music, and the warm tone and ...

(Detailed playlist , with listening links.) 1. Nu Sounds - "Black Sky and Blue Moon" - Spaceship Lullaby (Atavistic) 2. Bill Evans Trio - "Solar" - Sunday at the Village Vanguard (Riverside) [Paul Motian, 1931-2011.] 3. Sal Valentino - "Friends and Lovers" - Arrangements, v. 1 (Bananastan) 4. Jurgen Muller - "Meeresbett Meditation (Sea Bed Meditation)" - Science of the Sea (Digitalis) 5. Jonti - "Twirligig" - Twirligig (Stones Throw) 6. Sagittarius - "My World Fell Down" - Present Tense (Sundazed) 7. The Bats - "Getting Over You" - Free All The Monsters (Flying Nun) 8. Sonny and the Sandwitches - "Cathedral in the Desert" - Sonny and the Sandwitches EP (Empty Cellar) 9. Richard and Mimi ...

die kurzen kommen häufig zu kurz. oft übersieht man sie. dabei können sie ähnlich bezaubern, wie es einem durchgängig guten album gelingen kann. aber vielleicht liegt genau darin die stärke einer nur einige wenige titel fassenden songsammlung: komprimierung, abschottung der besten von den weniger guten. 2011 erweist sich als ein jahrgang, in dem sich einige besondere eps finden ließen, zusammengestellt zu einer ersten top ten: (01) tiny cities – the matter & light **** (02) allysen callery – winter island **** (03) james blackshaw – holly **** (04) bill wells & aidan moffat – cruel summer **** (05) moon duo – horror tour **** (06) trwbador - sun in the winter ***1/2 ...

james blackshaw - holly ep (2011) > eine arbeit, die tiefe und kompositorische strenge vermittelt, gleichzeitig durch leichtigkeit glänzt, wie sie vom konzentrierten spiel nie abzuleiten wäre, 4/5 uncle bengine & the restraining orders – comes in nines (2011) > munterer, ungeschliffener, countriesker rock 'n' roll mit slide, elektrischer gitarre, schepperndem gewerk und einem songwriting, das zügig auf den punkt kommt, 3,5/5 ronnie fauss – any lovin' way but wrong (2011) > cover alter meister, kristofferson, prine, foley und snider in aller gebotenen ehrerbietung, das tiefe und gründende timbre bleibt, gut so, ronnie, 3,5/5 tiny cities – the matter and light ep (2011 ...

lediglich 200 kopien gibt es von der "holly ep", die james blackshaw jüngst auf important records veröffentlicht hat. eine schande, wenn man zugleich lesen muss, dass es sich bei diesem kurzen longplayer um eine seiner besten aufnahmen handeln soll. "all is falling", sein achtes album, war gerade erschienen, james hatte eine längere tour hinter sich, da spielte er die beiden auf "holly" enthaltenen arrangements ein. der titeltrack beginnt mit einem sparsam gezupften motiv, woraufhin es munter zu rollen beginnt, begleitet von pianotupfern entwickelt er einen steten sog, der fruchtig ornamentiert wird, leichte ausfallschritte, crescendi, sprudelndes, verwirbelungen, tänzelndes. tiefe erreicht die ...

"seasons on earth" ist meg bairds zweites soloalbum und zeigt damit noch lange nicht die meriten der folksängerin aus new jersey auf. die tief in traditionen verwurzelte sängerin, deren urgroßonkel einer der bekanntesten sänger des liedguts der appalachen im 19. jahrhundert gewesen sei, spielt(e) mit ihrer schwester in the baird sisters auf, unterstützte sowohl bonnie 'prince' billy als auch sharon van etten bei deren aufnahmen, zimmerte darüber hinaus ein album gemeinsam mit sharron kraus und helena espvall, mit der sie nicht zuletzt auch bei espers antrat. über die vielfachen kollaborationen u.a. mit kurt vile, jack rose, james blackshaw ...

British guitarist/composer's surprisingly honest and open state of mind might be what distinguishes this EP, and makes it a lovely and welcome addition to his annual output.

Later this month, guitar virtuoso James Blackshaw will release yet another breathtakingly beautiful record. Titled Holly , it’s a 12-inch EP with only two tracks, but boy is it lovely. After last year’s epic eight-part masterpiece ( All Is Falling ) and an intensive tour, the 29-year-old Brit has cooled off a little to record some more mellow, summery stuff. Like the album art clearly resembles, Side A, the 13-minute title track, has a rather impressionistic feel (like a lot of Blackshaw’s work). His whirling guitar work along with Debussy-esque piano lines paint a dramatic scene without getting too detailed ...

Pitchforkmedia: Blackshaw writes high drama into instrumental music with subtlety and charm, speaking on sentiments and stories without requiring a single lyric… Blackshaw seems fully settled, engaging his pieces and ideas with the unflinching belief of Tony Conrad in 1964 or Steve Reich in 1965… “ Uncut Magazine: In the tradition of “American Primitive” guitarists [...]