Last year saw the release of Liam Barker’s excellent Voice of the Eagle documentary of the life of guitarist Robbie Basho. Directly linked to the film is Song of the Avatars, a five-disc box set of previously unheard music.
Barker first became aware of Basho through purchasing Tompkins Square’s 2006 reissue of Venus in Cancer and from there began peeling back the layers of Basho’s life, career and the circumstances surrounding his untimely death, resulting in the Voice of the Eagle film.
During the research process for the documentary, Barker unearthed a large cache of material by Basho from throughout his career, ranging from 1965 – 1985. This body of work will be set across the five discs as a collection piece (Tompkins Square is also putting out a single vinyl LP of music from the same collection) and will include notes from Barker, Glenn Jones, Richard Osborn, Steffen Basho-Junghans and Henry Kaiser, along with many previously unseen photographs. There has been more focus recently on the life and music of Basho, with compilations and reissues being released, but this attractively packaged treasure trove looks to be the ultimate treat for any Basho fan.
Tracklisting: ‘SONG OF THE AVATARS : THE LOST MASTER TAPES’
Tracklisting:
Disc One:
1. Hari Kari, Kali Style
2. If I Had Possession
3. Bengali Prayer
4. Brahmanís Blues
5. Tatanka
6. Medieval Nocturne
7. Autumn Child
8. Priest Spring Jazz
9. Hippy Song
10. Swamp Song
11. Rosey Bush
Disc Two:
1. Gypsy Rosary
2. Himalayan Highlands
3. Rising Sun Song
4. Song of the Avatars
5. Mehera my Love
6. Mehera’s Lament
7. Hymn for the Warriors of the Rainbow
8. White Buffalo
9. Walla Walla
10. Crazy Horse Soliloquy
11. Come to Me
Disc Three:
1. Symphonic Quisada for the Prophet
2. Cry of the Nightingale
3. Song of God
4. Le jandin (Ballet)
5. Libation
6 House of God
7. Breeze in the Palace
8. Queenís Ride
9. Bhupali
Disc Four:
1. Golden Palomino
2. Memorial
3. Great Depression Blues
4. American Sunday
5. Bride of Thunder
6. Ride the Buffalo
7. Majnun’s Lament
8. Omar Khayaam Country
9. Four Ladies Across the Water
10. Tears of Teresa
11. Blues from Lebanon
12. The Song of Leila
13. Califia
Disc Five:
1. Tree of Love
2. Lady Fair
3. Wonder Song
4. The Fortunes of War
5. Hindu Christmas Carol
6. Shepherd of the Stars
7. Baba Boy
8. Murshidaís Wally
9. Sea of Light (Babaís Ship Song)
10. Lord of Roses
Songs of the Avatars: The Lost Master Tapes will be out on Tompkins Square on December 4th
Pre-Order here: http://www.tompkinssquare.com/bashoboxset.html
