Wayfaring Strangers: Guitar Soli [coll] – [Numero Group]

ArtCrimes   3/5/2008   A Library, CD

Wayfaring Strangers: Guitar Soli

The Numero Group has expanded beyond the amazing soul reissues it became famous for, with the series “Wayfaring Strangers,” devoted to obscure folk artists from the 60s-70s. This one explores the world of instrumental music for steel string guitar, along the lines of your John Faheys, Leo Kottkes, and Robbie Bashos, but way more mysterious. Unfortunately our pre-release version doesn’t have the booklet to explain where these folks came from and why we’ve never heard of them. But for anyone who loves those overtones on a colossal Guild 12 string that ring for days on end, this is your bag. Most tracks here strictly avoid folkie convention and instead make pioneering moves towards new methods of composing and playing acoustic guitars, with studio trickery largely avoided in favor of audio honesty. Fans of modern-day folks like Six Organs… and Jack Rose should find this worthwhile.