James Blackshaw – Holly

September 30 saw the release of a new EP by James Blackshaw, one of my favorite guitarists. The 29 year old British instrumentalist has finished a recent and extensive stint of  touring and offers us two tracks that recall his early days. Holly has the flavor of  2005′s Celeste/Sunshrine release by  Bo’ Weavil, a sound that Blackshaw had departed from for a few years. After some recordings that suffered slightly from very polished production and too much experimentation, he returns to his tried but true training and virtuosity.

The title track is a first. He puts aside the twelve string guitar and graces us with the nylon, a change that gives a kinder and gentler ambience than the steel. The overall melancholia created here might just be the saddest and most honest piece he’s recorded. There have been many references to his songs as “Impressionistic”, a description that I feel is very appropriate to this cut. Throughout his discography (and very present here) is an emotional soundscape not dissimilar from Satie, Ravel or Debussy.

The second track “Boo, Forever” is a nod to the great writer Richard Brautigan’s poem:

“Spinning like a ghost

On the bottom of a top,

I’m haunted by all the space

That I will live without you. ”

With this literary ideal in mind, he returns to the raga-influenced finger-picking material he does best. Takoma-style Basho, Fahey and Kottke fans will love it. As with the first piece, there is quite an emotional intensity here.

Blackshaw seems under a heavy weight with these recordings, and the addition of Charlotte Glasson on clarinet, saxophone, flute and violin only enhances the somber narrative he conveys. His surprisingly honest and open state of mind might be what distinguishes this EP and makes it a lovely and welcome addition to his annual output.