What a strange and challenging year to be an artist and release music, and yet the fruits have been so sweet. Here are a few examples of musicians outdoing themselves.
Nick Jonah Davis When the Sun Came (Thread Recordings)
My favourite of the year is Nick’s fourth exploration into the art of solo guitar music, an immersive album of strong tunes impeccably performed. Nick’s Weissenborn style guitar is arguably the star of the show here, either creating beautiful drawn out notes of yearning and optimism, or strange spectral discordant sounds (All Them Symbols).
Try: Goodfellow of the Riverside
Sally Anne Morgan Thread (Thrill Jockey)
Sally Anne’s debut solo album is a wonderful melting pot of traditional Appalachian styles blended with musical prowess and brimming with ideas. Each song manages to link sweetly with the next while sounding completely different. Banjo and subtle electric guitar are perfect bedfellows and traditional songs happily mix with originals.
Try: Ellemwood Meditation
Cynefin Dilyn Afon (Astar Artes)
West Wales native Owen Shiers, who performs under his Cynefin moniker (a Welsh word meaning animals’ trails and the sense of familiarity and belonging), has created a stunning album of the richest material, centring around Shiers’ skill as a fingerstyle guitarist, but allowing room for fine, delicate arrangements. Beautiful.
Try: Ffarwel I Aberystwyth
JR Samuels Hand Like God (Dear Life Records)
More amazing fingerstyle guitar work can be heard here, but Samuels’ purely improvised instrumental half hour of diverse, often challenging, music is a very different beast, although no less impressive and satisfying. Moving from spiky little devils to rich and moving pieces, Samuels’ set is a rich and engaging listening experience.
Try: Wack Sentiment
Bill Callahan Gold Record (Drag City)
One of two artists also featured last year, this shorter, more outwardly focused set from master songwriter Callahan possibly does the unthinkable and improves on the amazing Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest. Across ten tracks, Bill includes full on comedy (Ry Cooder), heartbreak and trauma (The Mackenzies) and elderly reflection (Pigeons). Magic.
Try: As I Wander
Sarah Louise Earth and all its Contents (Self-Released)
Another year, another mention for the inimitable Sarah Louise Henson. Following on from last year’s excellent Nighttime Birds and Morning Stars, Earth is a soundtrack album, bringing in electronic drones and dissonance and melding them with sweet banjo notes and picked guitar. A splendid distillation of skills.
Try: The Glow in the Morning
(to note: this was released as a digital-only album but a proper release is hopefully planned for next year)
Martin Kirkegaard Tar Gui (DaFuGa Sounds)
Martin’s beautifully packaged double album is packed with song notes, tunings and other juicy information and the music is just as bountiful. A set of deep and rich solo guitar and old beat-up banjo instrumentals, Tar Gui is great. This unpigeon-holeable artist’s music brings in elements of jazz and blues, along with drawn-out raga pieces. Deeply rewarding.
Try: Rodhånd
Buck Curran No Love is Sorrow (Obsolete Recordings)
Another very generous album is from gifted guitarist, curator and luthier Buck Curran and it too demonstrates musical diversity and skill. The sound ranges from beautiful acoustic fingerstyle tunes (Chromatical, No Love is Sorrow) to spooky and apocalyptic soundscape music driven by electric guitars (War Behind the Sun, One Evening).
Try: No Love is Sorrow
Gwenifer Raymond Strange Lights over Garth Mountain (Tompkins Square)
Let’s finish with a couple of peaches from Tompkins Square’s excellent output. Gwen’s second release sees her music progressing into complex, unpredictable, multi-layered compositions, all played with the utmost skill and flair. A focus on longer and more fully realised songs is a resounding success, with each as thrilling as the last.
Try: Marseilles Bunkhouse, 3am
Josh Kimbrough Slither, Soar & Disappear (Tompkins Square)
A gentler earworm is Josh’s debut solo album, a set of beautifully composed tunes for guitar, embellished with a sympathetic cast of accompanying instruments. Backyard Hawk brings in banjo and flute to enhance a delicate nylon guitar piece, while Eyes on the Moon uses subtle cello and bass to augment a patient guitar line. A very fine record indeed.
Try: Brooker Creek Ripple