James Blackshaw’s Cloud of Unknowing

I don’t remember how I stumbled on The Cloud of Unknowing — perhaps it was the album art that grabbed me, since I hadn’t heard of him before — but I’m really thankful that for whatever reason, I’m listening to it now.

Excuse the early morning verbosity.

Blackshaw’s instrumental album, performed on 12-string guitar, is a gorgeously layered, spinning in and out of careening through moments of expectation and resolution. The five song album begins with an eleven minute piece, and ends with one just over fifteen … but listening wouldn’t push you to feel eager for a close. Each moment is intricately designed and devilishly addictive, minimal but dense.

I doubt I’m actually indicating anything meaningful about the record at this point … I need more coffee. But if you see it, grab it. And give him a listen: James Blackshaw’s MySpace

I got a hold of “O True Believers” and oh what a gorgeous album (art and music), as small as it is.

I’m not sure if you’ve seen the movie “Elizabethtown” (it’s not good…) which features quite a lot of folk music not too different from this on the three soundtracks. I’ll bet they would have loved to have found this guy when compiling them.