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14tracks guided by Takoma

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156

JAMES BLACKSHAW

Bled

JAMES BLACKSHAW

Bled

Standout track from Blackshaw's debut album for Michael Gira's Young God label.

156

ALEXANDER TURNQUIST

White Out

ALEXANDER TURNQUIST

White Out

Beautiful shimmering cascades from this gifted virtuoso.

156

TOM JAMES SCOTT

Crane in The North

TOM JAMES SCOTT

Crane in The North

Serene, harmonically adventurous work from this member of improvising collective CYRK.

156

STEFFEN BASHO-JUNGHANS

a north thuringian raga

STEFFEN BASHO-JUNGHANS

a north thuringian raga

An inspired excursion into the creases and folds of modern delta-delica...

156

SCOTT TUMA

Fishen

SCOTT TUMA

Fishen

A central guitar line decorated with field recordings and found sounds.

156

SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE

Oak Path

SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE

Oak Path

Ben Chasny somehow manages to be reverential while drumming up a sound all his own...

156

HARRY TAUSSIG

Dorian Sonata

HARRY TAUSSIG

Dorian Sonata

Beautifully dusty, crackly recording from 1965...

Takoma
156

SANDY BULL

Untitled

SANDY BULL

Untitled

Fantastic lost recording from Sandy Bull, lifted off this beautiful Tompkins Square compilation.

156

JACK ROSE

Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord

JACK ROSE

Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord

12, 6 string and lap guitar built on a fund of blues and ragtime signatures...

156

Brad Barr

War

Brad Barr

War

Sounding a bit like a Takoma-fied take on the theme from M.A.S.H, field recordings included.

156

SIR RICHARD BISHOP

mystic minor 23

SIR RICHARD BISHOP

mystic minor 23

The super-talented Richard Bishop, armed only with a single steel string wooden guitar...

156

BEN REYNOLDS

Kirstie

BEN REYNOLDS

Kirstie

British steel-strung guitarist Ben Reynolds working vintage bluegrass styles.

156

JAMES BLACKSHAW

Running to the Ghost

JAMES BLACKSHAW

Running to the Ghost

Not only a display of technical prowess but also an exploration of beauty and simplicity.

156

JOHN FAHEY

Joe Kirby Blues

JOHN FAHEY

Joe Kirby Blues

The great man himself recorded at san francisco's legendary matrix club in the late 60's...

Disco01
Hip_hop02
Tokyo02
Jazz01
Summer01
Xela01
Echo_chamber01
Piano01
Volmeter
Verandaillustration
Hardcorenebulus
Ladiesjkndfl
Berghaindjgkgkg
Super8dnf
Kompakt
Dubwise14
Illustration_china
Coversversiondhfdh
Hybriddubstep
Corrosivesign
Oscilloscope
Detroitbeyone
Reinforcedhghg
Plugdrone
Shiva
Basichannel14hjfhjgj
14trackswonkyehch
Cello
Fieldrecordings
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Bestoffff008
Bestof142008
2step14tracks
14tracksgamelandg
Surgeonsty
14yracksdarkambient
Logo_g_wackies
Heartbreakdhfhfh
Melodicaaccordio
Clonebadge_3
Wonkypart2
Sonicyouth14
Earlyelectronics
14tlarrywarehouse
Moved14
Filmnoir
Bristol_badge
Sunracosmic
Janjelinek
Cache_2
Hypercolorsynth
14tracksmali
14tracksbowed
Rushhourtgh
Jamalmoss
Casiomt40_2
Ukfunky
Digitalhardcore
14_tracks_r_henke
Spraycan1
Takoma
La beats
Junglerave
Alvanoto
Rustie_1
Jeckbasinski
Silhouette
Orange-gradient
Vladislav-delay
Underground-resistance
Mikavainio
Tropical14
Hauntology
Headintheclouds
Redshape
Dynamicsteppers
Dj
Citynight
Something3
Chocolate_box
Chocolate_box_part2
Chocolate_box_part3
Chocolate_box_part4
Disco_neon
Psychedelicwanderlust
Mirror
Triangulation_green
Minimal-wave
Roedelius
Blacknoodles
Roska
Finderskeepers
Newton_cradle
Scrolly_spinner

This time on 14tracks:

“14 tracks guided by Takoma”

John Fahey's Takoma label was originally set up in 1959 as an outlet for his own recordings, starting with the now legendary "Blind Joe Death" album that was made in a run of just 100 copies in the Washington D.C. neighbourhood that gave the label its name. Takoma's influence would in later years become so pronounced that the school of traditional finger-picked guitar music that it specialised in, known in some quarters as American Primitivism, is now often just referred to as the 'Takoma' sound. This is a defined and established musical universe that's more or less instantly identifiable by steel string guitar rendered along traditional Blues templates, featuring elements of classical, Spanish and Appalachian music both reverential to convention and drawn to the Avant-garde. This week's 14 track selection looks at those artists absorbed in, guided by and taking cues from Takoma's legacy, including material from Fahey himself, contemporaries such as Sandy Bull and Harry Taussig, and modern day protégés such as James Blackshaw, Jack Rose and Sir Richard Bishop. The sound they make continues to exert huge influence not only on the American Primitive school, but also on folk, classical and experimental traditions enthralled by the evocative musical landscapes drawn with these uniquely minimal, rich and endlessly skilful strokes.

Take part! Leave a comment!

What do you think of this selection?
Any suggestions?
All comments are warmly welcomed.







On 22 Jul 09:42 Andrew lamb said:

“ahh yes.”

Blisss : )

On 22 Jul 09:58 Andre said:

“Glenn Jones”

A great selection. A bit of Glenn Jones would work well alongside these picks: http://www.myspace.com/glennjonesguitar

On 22 Jul 10:10 andrea kramer said:

“magic”

I can't say i've ever heard much of this kind of music before but you've just transformed this grey wednesday morning into something sunbleached and dreamy. Just so lovely.

On 22 Jul 10:35 will barton said:

“Fahey”

Killer ending...hehe, good work.

On 22 Jul 13:38 Spooky Luke said:
http://www.myspace.com/lazysounds4lazypeople

“Fingerpickin' great”

Lovely stuff - it's nice to see John Fahey and his legacy recognised.

On 22 Jul 19:33 lee burridge deserves to do a fabric cd said:

this completely made my day thanks a lot keep up the great work

On 24 Jul 21:31 Yair Yona said:
http://www.myspace.com/yairyona

“A great influence on me”

John Fahey played a huge role on my music, and made it possible for me to shut up, and start playing. Yair