Continuing its run of remastering classic albums through the SACD hybrid, Audio Fidelity has recently re-released Michael Hedges’ Grammy nominated Aerial Boundaries from 1984. Hedges was one of the originators of the two handed tapping approach to guitar playing, and he also was “the sound” of the New Age musical movement on Windham Hill. This album has him in lyrical form on pieces such as “Spare Change,” “Ragamuffin” and the title track. His warm sound is like a cool drink and defines the era. Mike Manring brings his fretless bass to join in on a rich take of Neil Young’s “After the Gold Rush” and teams with flutist Mindy Rosenfeld on another impressionistic track. Nothing here predicts the devolution of this genre, with a rich mix of melody, space and improvisation making for wondrous moments of sound.
Audio Fidelity