Voice of the Eagle: The Enigma of Robbie Basho (Dir. Liam Barker)
Available now on Blu-Ray/DVD and Digital
For fans of the Takoma and Windham Hill branches of solo guitar music, also sometimes known as the American Primitive style of playing, although that label is always slightly dubious, Voice of the Eagle is a box of treasures. Alongside pioneer John Fahey, the eccentric and frankly sometimes odd Robbie Basho née Robinson (1940 – 1986) is arguably regarded as the most important thinker and player in the movement during the 1960s and 1970s and Liam Barker’s film intends to shed some light on this unusual and remarkably gifted character, while also giving us plenty of examples of his spellbinding music to satisfy us throughout.
The film’s structure is a simple and appropriate one of several pieces of interviews with many musicians, juxtaposed with some television and radio footage (there wasn’t very much at the time; Basho is more famous now than he ever was when alive) and Basho’s quite magnificent and transcendent singing and playing backing gorgeous scenery and nature footage, along with some striking imagery. Some of the players interviewed are also big hitters, with Rich Osborne, Glenn Jones, Max Ochs and Will Ackerman, all friends colleagues or protégés, among those illuminating us on his life, art, character and quirks, both amusing (there are some lovely anecdotes throughout) and sometimes quite distressing. There is a touching fondness for him apparent at every turn, as well as obvious awe for an artist who appeared to be working and creating on a different level to most people. Seeing Ackerman smile slightly as he explains being in a room with Robbie while he apparently conversed with an invisible spirit called The Black Madonna is a nice moment of filming; Ackerman is not mocking Basho’s dazzlingly unique character, he is affectionately remembering it.
The film is very well put together and edited; there is a lean quality to proceedings and a snappiness to the playback; the variety of music on offer is broad and gives a generous impression of Basho’s deep-rooted musical and religious vision and journey, spending plenty of time studying the significant influence of Indian and Japanese cultures, while providing context both in the form of other people’s music and his contemporaries explaining his technique and approach. Even Pete Townshend pops up from time to time, demonstrating how long the influential arm of Basho’s art is. Still, this film really is made for fans of Robbie’s music and the music of these contemporaries, and it will and should make many people want to discover more of it. You could suggest it is esoteric in parts, but with a subject like Robbie Basho, it would be impossible to make a film about his life without it probing some interesting areas; indeed, it would dilute the richness and detract from the finished article. Barker has the balance just right, and the film is never less than intriguing, and at points, it is particularly inspiring from a musical stance. There is even a look at his musical instruments, for the geeks among us.
It is a great physical package too, with the three discs providing both DVD and Blu Ray versions of the film, along with extended interview footage and the feature trailer, plus a twenty-four-page booklet of photography and exclusive links to additional content specific to the release. As an insight into a unique artist and highly unconventional man, this piece is fascinating As an accessible lesson (either beginning or continuing) in some of the numerous styles of music and different cultures that inform parts of the beautiful music we sometimes call American Primitive or solo instrumental acoustic guitar, it is essential.
Order Blue-Ray and DVD here: https://robbiebashofilm.bigcartel.com/
Digital via Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/robbiebashofilm
