Glass Bead Game

A new direction in some ways for James Blackshaw starting with the beautiful 12 string "Cross" he moves onto a ten minute instrumental "Bled" finishing with the eighteen minute epic "Arc".James's piano playing is much more evident on this release and he is also adding more orchestrating instruments.This is a fine cd and with all good things will grow with repeated playing.(The Glass Bead Game is also a title of a book by Hermann Hesse,check it out?)

Amazing talent

This extraordinary music would not sound out of placein a Himalayan mountain temple or a Gothic Cathedral;somewhere where the echoes might float away into theinaccessible snow-covered peaks or a dark and mightyvaulted ceiling. These are sounds of grand design made withrefreshingly simple means mixed with a big dose of talent.James Blackshaw is a master of his 12 string guitar.He conjures an almost orchestral range of sonic complexityfrom its body. Deep, multi-layered, hypnotic and enchanting.The five compositions on this mesmerising album areoccasionally augmented by piano and harmonium, alsoplayed by Blackshaw; violin, courtesy of Joolie Wood;cello, from John Contreras and the haunting voice ofLavinia Blackwell.The somewhat terse, single-word titles, belie the riches within.Opening track 'Cross' takes time to bare its soul.The first, quasi-medieval, guitar subject found me thinkingabout the great Leo Kottke for some reason best known to mymemory - something to do with the tunings perhaps.This notion was almost immediately swept away followingthe string and vocal entries. Weaving within and aroundthe dense guitar onslaught Ms Blackwood, in particular,contributes a near-ghostly ambience to the proceedings.'Bled', is a highly concentrated and reflective piece.It is almost a little sonata of sorts. The first partfeaturing a chiming chordal pattern repeated over a nocturnalharmonium accompaniment; the second a more lively andcomplex explosion of technically prodigeous fingerwork;the third a brief return to the relative calm of the opening.From darkess to light and back to the shadows again.'Fix' finds Mr Blackshaw at the piano chopping away(it is clearly not his first instrument!) for all he'sworth, providing a neo-classical framework for Ms Wood'sand Mr Contreras' elegant string decorations.Not the best of the bunch by far but certainlygood enough in its own, sweet but somewhat naive way.Back to business with 'Key'. Another big slice ofpulsing guitar grandeur. The elusive time-signatureand minimal melodic development gives the piece amantra-like quality. Inside looking out/outside looking in.Sand shifting over sand; cloud passing over cloud.Final track 'Arc' is an ambitious composition ofalmost nineteen minutes duration. Out of the romantic(almost cinematic) piano/string introduction a stirringorganic development emerges. Wave upon wave ofswirling keyboard arpeggios, uncompromising in theirsingle-minded sonic journey, crash and rage repeatedlyagainst the rocks of our consciousness.It is an uncompromising but captivating visionand a memorably bold conclusion.This is a wonderful album in every way.Finding the right moment to listen toit may require more careful thought andthat time may be different for each of us.I am convinced of its value and hope it mayfind a place in the wider listening world.Highly Recommended.

James Blackshaw is just so good that every time he releases something new I know I have to get it. And every time I introduce him to a friend I make a new convert. And so the word spreads, slowly but surely. So now Michael Gira has signed him upto his Young God label, and here Blackshaw builds on the move he made towards greater instrumentation on the excellent Litany of Echoes. It's still about 12 string virtuosity, and he's still innovating - surpassing all the great masters in my opinion. But this time the guitar playing is complemented by beautifully captivating choral arrangements, piano and cello. The tracks on The Glass Bead Game fulfill that greatest of musical accomplishments - they transport you to another place - they transform your state of being. I have no doubt I'll still be listening to this in 20 years time just as I have with John McLaughlin's Shakti. This is utterly brilliant music that deserves to find a diverse audience amongst lovers of disparate musical forms. Acquire a copy and enrich your life!

Ah. This is so good. I bought this album after seeing him play live in the summer and I'm pretty sure I'll get his other stuff too. An incredibly talented guitarist writing some really beautiful music.