Album
The Glass Bead Game
2009 · Classical, Folk, World, & Country
Rare pressing on Gatefold
The Glass Bead Game is a Folk album by James Blackshaw, originally released in 2009. On Gatefold: 4 pressings tracked.
About
On James Blackshaw's seventh studio album the opening "Cross" bestows an organic sounding symphony from beautifully dexterous finger-picking on a 12-string acoustic. But Blackshaw is also interested in adding to the Fahey formula — gossamer cellos braid gently with harmonium, flute, clarinet, violin and Glaswegian chanteuse Lavina Blackwall's heavenly singing — all coming together to recall moments of Pentangle's brilliance without overtly emulating them. Conversely, "Bled" plays with space and restraint, allowing Blackshaw's steel strings to ring longer before his picking gathers momentum. A distant piano introduces "Fix" before cello notes add stark beauty to a chaste composition thirsty for Blackshaw's absent guitar. But his 12-string returns on the following "Key" with gentle explosions of endless arpeggios cascading like a backwards waterfall pouring upwards. Ending on the nearly 20-minute-long "Arc" showcases his true brilliance. The metamorphic movement begins as a piano solo before other elements are patiently layered until crawling from its pupa, pumping its wings and taking flight.
via Apple Music
The Clerk says
The Clerk knows this whole record — the pressing quirks, the credits, the take.
Tracklist
- 1Cross8:38
- 2Bled10:26
- 3Fix5:39
- 4Key6:03
- 5Arc18:49
Sound DNA
- Folk
- Contemporary Indie Folk
- meditative
- pastoral
- lush
Notes from the original pressing. Later editions may differ.
Packaged in a tri-fold Digipak.
Credits
The people behind it.
Performers
- James Blackshaw12-STRING ACOUSTIC GUITAR , PIANO , HARMONIUM PIANO, HARMONIUM, TWELVE-STRING GUITAR TWELVE-STRING GUITAR , PIANO, HARMONIUM
- John ContrerasCELLO
- Joolie WoodVIOLIN , FLUTE , CLARINET VIOLIN, FLUTE, CLARINET
- Lavinia BlackwallVOCALS
Rare pressing on Gatefold · 4 pressings tracked on Gatefold
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