John Lee Shannon – In & Of
Tompkins Square – Out Now
Guitarist John Lee Shannon‘s Tompkins Square debut was originally supposed to have been a collaboration with guitarist and producer Neal Casal, who unfortunately passed away last summer. Shannon then decided to record an intimate instrumental set of melodic songs focusing on the beauty and simplicity of solo guitar music, an idea partially stemming from Andres Segovia’s reference to the guitar as ‘like an orchestra looked at by the reverse side of binoculars.’ The resulting album is eleven short pieces beginning with and building on a simple melody by using the versatility of an acoustic guitar. So, broadly speaking, what we have is much less in keeping with the Takoma school of solo guitar than it is with the Windham Hill style. Indeed, second track Mid Atlantic, a buoyant and undulating song built around a major scale, sounds like a close relative to William Tyler’s Fail Safe from Goes West, another album similar in places to William Ackerman’s label’s music. Because of Shannon’s insistence on making songs through melodies, there is very little double thumbed drone playing, instead favouring more structured song formats.
It certainly makes for a highly enjoyable and varied album, with each meticulously penned and played piece slipping past easily. Like a few songs on here, opener Analogue is reminiscent of some of Mark Fosson’s material from his Drag City Solo Guitar album, in that it keeps the spirit of solo guitar music while focusing on the power of the song as a complete article inside three minutes. And that is what In & Of does very well; Judee depicts a mini cinematic tragedy through minor notes and sedate pacing, while Frisco uses muted strings and a gorgeously steady melody to paint its railroad reference in bright romantic Technicolor. These are very evocative little pieces of music that demonstrate the power of a solid melody, seemingly a strength of Shannon’s. Even the high strung, sub two minute Big Soul is perfectly formed within its tight run time and is a highlight in the set. An ambiguous little imp, the song feels open ended, resulting in a sense of loss running through it and and an underlying feeling of melancholy. It is very cleverly composed and rather beautiful.
Big Soul is hard to top, but closing number Trail Song, the longest of the set at over four minutes, comes close, with softly ringing harmonics introducing a gentle tune, building on a simple travelling beat with a lovely little thumbed bass line on the low strings. Aside from the wandering bass and a sunny second section, the melody doesn’t stray far from its base refrain, instead deciding to subtly change the guitar playing as it develops, making the notes fuller and bringing them in close until the end bars. It’s a gorgeous number, again built using that melodic structure and very gently embellishing as the song and album plays out. Lovely work Mr Shannon, this is an impeccably performed set of small unpretentious gems highlighting the subtle joys of the ubiquitous acoustic guitar. Splendid.
Order via Bandcamp: https://tompkinssquare.bandcamp.com/album/in-of