Robbie Basho 'Venus In Cancer'
- Mojo October 2006"Essential" – All Music Guide
"His voice is from another world. Robbie is special" - Pete Townshend 2006
Released on CD for the very first time, the album has been remastered from the original tapes. The package includes original album artwork and new appreciations from Windham Hill label founder Will Ackerman, Basho college friend and fellow Takoma recording artist Max Ochs, German guitarist Steffen Basho-Junghans, and Pete Townshend of The Who. Basho has cemented his reputation alongside John Fahey and Leo Kottke as one of the most brilliant guitarists of his generation. His wide range of musical influences from around the globe set him apart from other blues-based players, incorporating Arabic, Himalayan and Indian themes; Japanese and Chinese scales, and classical and European folk music. All are on magnificent display on this sprawling, spiritually-charged album. Twenty years since his death in 1986, Basho's legend continues to grow, having strongly influenced a new generation of guitarists including Jack Rose, Ben Chasny (Six Organs of Admittance) and James Blackshaw, among many others. The first ever live recording by Robbie Basho, a version of "Kowaka D'Amour" from Venus in Cancer, can be found on Tompkins Square's recent compilation, Imaginational Anthem, Vol. 2.
FEATURED RELEASE: IMAGINATIONAL ANTHEM VOLUME 2 The sequel to the acclaimed acoustic guitar anthology Imaginational Anthem Volume 1 (released 10/25/05).Highlights among the twelve tracks comprising Imaginational Anthem Volume 2 all previously unreleased on CD in the US.
Kowaka D'Amour by Robbie Basho (1940-1986), the first live recording ever issued by this legendary artist.
Devil's Brew by Fred Gerlach, a 1975 home recording by this masterful 12-string guitarist cited as an influence by Jimmy Page.
New recordings of compositions by original Takoma recording artists Peter Lang (Future Shot at the Rainbow) and Billy Faier (New World Coming).
Some of the other artist featured include Jose Gonzales, James Blackshaw, Sean Smith and Sharron Kraus
Imaginational Anthem brings together pioneering acoustic guitar heroes of the 60's and 70's alongside a new generation of amazing players. Nearly 70 minutes of archival, live, and newly recorded studio tracks - some by artists who haven't released any music in decades. Plus a deluxe booklet with producer's notes and never-before-seen photographs.
Imaginational Anthem contains 16 tracks, 13 of which are previously unreleased and 9 which were specifically recorded for this album.
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Also check out this new interview with Max Ochs