Acoustic/Instrumental - Critics tend to toss around the words "hypnotic" and "mesmerizing" when describing the music of U.K. guitar virtuoso James Blackshaw. Only in his late 20's, Blackshaw has released a half dozen exceptional albums of what might be termed "minimalist acoustic" music: a blend of "Takoma"-styled 12-string finger picking of pioneers such as Bert Jansch, John Renbourn and even Leo Kottke along with repetitive, almost droning note and chord patterns that become a swirling tapestry of layered sound. Guitar aficionados are well aware of Blackshaw's works but with a new album Glass Bead Shade arriving May 26 we're hoping that he'll make the commercial breakthrough that he deserves. A bit more orchestrated in production, Shade is a brilliant collection of understated yet dazzling music for the head and heart.

"The hypnotic arpeggios at the heart of James Blackshaw’s acoustic guitar playing reflect strong influences from outside the precincts of folk music: minimalist composers like Steve Reich and Terry Riley, and some of their precursors, like Erik Satie. Mr. Blackshaw, a British autodidact still in his mid-20s, finger picks his 12-string Guild with an immersive focus befitting such heady allusions. At its best (his music)) conveys a stark and ancient feeling, like something handed down through the ages...." - Nate Chinen, The New York Times

"One of the best and most original instrumentalists in the new, acoustic renaissance" - David Fricke, Rolling Stone

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