Glenn Kimpton

Dense without being heavy, intelligent without being esoteric, this is elegant, nuanced music that has been finely crafted and richly woven. Unsung is a quite remarkable album.

Every note that Mason Lindahl plays on here counts and can be heard; there is a quiet strength and boldness to the music that makes it so effective. Kissing Rosy in the Rain is fantastic – Lindahl has explored the limitations and boundaries of instrumental guitar music and created something fresh and vital.

Many heavyweights feature on Daniel Hecht’s musical timeline, but his 1973 debut album, simply titled Guitar, is still arguably the finest example of his talents – an enthralling, highly creative and timeless debut.

On ‘In the Furrows of Common Place’, Jim Ghedi brings focus to unrest, land enclosure and austerity. It is a stunning and remarkable album with bags of passion, creativity and precision from the always fascinating Ghedi.

Glenn Kimpton shares his Top 10 Albums of 2020 including Nick Jonah Davis, Sally Anne Morgan, Cynefin, JR Samuels, Bill Callahan, Sarah Louise, Martin Kirkegaard, Buck Curran, Gwenifer Raymond and more.

Steffen’s “The Dancer on the Hill” is an album that will demand to be listened to many times. Once the final notes of the beautiful closer drift away, you will want to go straight back to the beginning.

Gwenifer Raymond’s ‘Strange Lights over Garth Mountain’ feels like a huge leap forward from her debut. Daring and complex it highlights the progressive nature of Raymond’s playing perfectly.

There is something pure and beautiful about ‘Home Recordings’ that finely balances and sets it apart from any other Martin Simpson album I can think of. A wonderful achievement and gratefully received.

Tompkins Square is set to release Song of the Avatars : The Lost Master Tapes, a 5CD Robbie Basho boxset of previously unreleased material from throughout his career, ranging from 1965 – 1985.

Of all Nick Jonah Davis’s albums, this is my favourite. Not a note is wasted and the whole set hangs together beautifully; it is surprising, patient, spacious and quite mesmerising.

John Lee Shannon’s “In & Of” is an impeccably performed set of small unpretentious gems highlighting the subtle joys of the ubiquitous acoustic guitar. Splendid.

It’s a clever musician who can weave such a human image through sparse improvised playing, but Samuels is clearly one such player and this small, cohesive and unassuming album contains multitudes of such touches.