We have our first ever, two time Record of the Week honoree and his name is James Blackshaw. His 2009 album, The Glass Bead Game, was our first ever Record of the Week after the great website redesign of last year. This time it’s his fantastic new album, All Is Falling, that gets the call for Record of the Week.

If you are not familiar with James Blackshaw’s work, he is a 20-something year old guitar prodigy who’s work was deeply rooted in the American Primitivism styling of John Fahey, Robbie Basho and Leo Kottke. As he has continued to put out albums, he’s found himself more and more, composing piano pieces as well as string arrangements to surround his very intricate acoustic guitar work.

With his new album he’s decided to pick up the electric guitar and you can see influence from Phillip Glass to Sandy Bull and comparisons to more modern acts such as Peter Broderick and even Nico Muhly. Instead of song titles, the tracks are listed as parts, giving off the idea that this album is one long piece broken into movements. There isn’t much of a break in the album until the final movement, which also happens to be the longest on the album.

All in all, another absolutely fine effort from James Blackshaw. It’s not often an album comes out and we already eagerly await what he’s going to do next, but with Blackshaw’s musical evolution, we can’t help but be excited what he’s got in store for the future.

Listen to “Part 2″ from James Blackshaw’s All Is Falling

Honorable Mentions

Christian Mistress – Agony & Opium (20 Buck Spin)

Our honorable mention could have very well of been Record of the Week as well. It’s refreshing when a record comes around these days and you can only describe it with two words: heavy metal. Christian Mistress’ debut album, Agony & Opium, is six tracks of metal played the way the it should be played. Hearkening back to the sounds of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and maybe even Megadeth, this album is an absolute for any fan of NWOBHM.

Listen to “Desert Rose” from Christian Mistress’ Agony & Opium

For the inaugural record of the week we had a rather tough choice to make. So many great new albums are coming out for the May 26th release week between the new Grizzly Bear, Tyvek, Blank Dogs, Sunn O))), Current 93, Khanate, and tons of others. After all was said and done though, one stood much above the others to get the esteemed honor.

When James Blackshaw left Tompkins Square for Young God I had a feeling that something great was going to come. Michael Gira(Young God Records) rarely signs any artists that are short of amazing and I have absolutely loved everything that Blackshaw has put out. Admittedly though, I was feeling a little let down by his last effort, Litany of Echoes.

Blackshaw has been completely forgiven for any let down on this new album. Despite the fact that he is still compared to other guitar artists such as John Fahey, Robbie Basho, Jack Rose, and their ilk, Blackshaw has really carved out a sound all his own. Blackshaw’s sound has a much less American sound to it, which would make sense considering he is from England. His compositional skills go beyond guitar as well as vocal arrangements complement his guitar playing on the first track “Cross” and piano and string arrangements, not unlike Peter Broadrick’s work on Float, make up the majority of the second half of the album.

Blackshaw, having recently joined Current 93 and played on their new album(also released this week), is joined by members of Current 93. You’d think this would lead to a more abstract or disjointed Blackshaw but he seems to be more focused than ever. Recommended if you like John Fahey, English folk, ambient music or just a good record to play around the house on a rainy day.

Honorable mentions for May 26th Record of the Week:

• City Center – City Center (Type)
• Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest (Warp)
• Blank Dogs – Under and Under (In the Red)