Thompkins Square Rec.
V.A. : Beyond Berkeley Guitar (US,2010)***°
After Fahey’s Takoma label approach there weren’t too many serious attempts to form new centres for American primitive guitar. Thompkins Square already distanced itself to promote new serious acoustic guitarists. Sean Smith compiled two albums bringing together some of the Berkeley guitarists showing what these guitarists with a common area of inspiration have to offer. Listed are guitarists from Northern California with a love for the Bay area and its regional influence. Except for Ava Mendoza all artists have a common ground in tuneful excursions, often with open almost raga-esque tunes of finger picking, one a bit more breathing, melancholic or even more melodic than the other. Ava Mendoza playing on an acoustic and an electric guitar has a more blues reference of improvisation. The tracks melt very well into one another, with just the different conclusing track. There are crafty ideas involved but never surprises in it relaxed moodiness. The liner notes explain more background on the individual guitarists.
Interview with Aaron Sheppard :
