Back in the Mercedes 80s, guitarist Alex de Grassi was the poster child for what was then called New Age Music, usually on the Windham Hill Label. This latest album shows that de Grassi has evolved and grown over time, sounding like the second coming of folk guitar legend John Renbourn, as he brings together lovely originals and thoughtful interpretations of covers on this highly recommended album.
Hints of Pentangle are spun on “Eulogy in a low Voce” and the lovely Gaellic “Si Bhaeag Si Mhor”. His strings bend like a guitar at Cirque du Soliel on “Angel” and as he adds sitar-like hues on a creative and evocative read of “Shenandoah”. Likewise on Gershwin’s “It Ain’t Necessarily So”, he gives a strong pinch on the strings to accentuate to message, while painting with a nice brush of the blues on “But What?”. I haven’t listened to anything by this guy in years; this one makes me want to go back in his catalogue to see what I’ve missed!