James plays his twelve string with such intensity, subtlety, drama, and hypnotic radiance that it flows from your speakers with an all consuming symphonic depth. As I struggle to find the right superlatives it is the word hypnotic I am most pleased with. His playing often takes the form of a mantra and has in places a strong vibe of a beautiful raga.
This meditative music evokes a series of powerful images taking you way beyond where mere words can. It is, in short, an extraordinary achievement from an extraordinarily gifted man. He doesn’t waste words on titles leaving your mind to expand upon the themes within. As a result the names of the tracks are misguidedly simple belying their intricate depth, “Cross”, “Bled”, “Fix”, “Keys”, and “Arc”.
As much as I hate the word, which is often corrupted by modern day corporate crap-speak, his playing cascades, and swirls around you, massaging your senses, and surrounding you with misty colours.
It also contains a myriad of contradictions. It is intense and yet soothing. Complex and yet compelling. It is subtle and yet at the same time dramatic. Whatever words you wish to choose, and believe me it is a challenge, the album is totally and utterly absorbing.
In morbid fear of redundant repetition (that coupling being a good example in itself) I do not intend to attempt to dissect this album track for track. Save to say, that there are many moments of jaw dropping beauty encased within the instrumental pieces on offer.
The eighteen minute “Arc” which ends the album in a swirl of textured brilliance is, quite simply, one of the most thought provoking instrumental pieces I have ever heard. It leaves me believing that if the sky had a sound, and if heaven had a theme tune then this would be it. Such is the emotional impact of the piece.
James Blackshaw may have been at the head of the queue when gifts were handed out but his talent goes beyond his remarkable playing. There is a depth to his writing, a blissful beauty and atmosphere to his music which contains a definite spirituality making this album perfectly placed for these troubled times.
Listen for yourself on James Blackshaw's MySpace page.
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