JAMES BLACKSHAW – THE GLASS BEAD GAME

Unbelievably prolific for a 26 year old, this is UK guitar prodigy James Blackshaw’s 6th CD release, and his first on Michael Gira’s influential Young God Records label. Blackshaw’s sound is a stormy one, being a chief proponent of the 12-string acoustic guitar, which twangs and zithers its way through this material with an assured ghostliness. His acclaimed independent release The Litany of Echoes introduced this stalwart instrumentalist’s sound to a wider audience, and in recording for this label he has expanded his romantic mastery to include strings, winds and wordless operatic voices. There are five tracks on this album, building chapter by chapter to the chaotic and truly epic end piece, the 18-minute piano expression Arc. First off the rank is the Celtic-inspired Cross, his urgent acoustic work punctuated by owl-like hoots from his guest choristers and folky flute sub-melodies. Blackshaw’s penchant for minimalist composers of the 20th century is evident here, as well as the haunting, Satie-esque Fix, a lone piano lament. There is a clear forward motion to all these pieces, each seamlessly branching into the next as their repetitive canons tumble over and over towards their inexorable climax. Blackshaw may prove this generation’s Mike Oldfield in his output and cult appeal. Truly amazing stuff.

****