Jack Rose: Review of Jack's "Raag Manifestos"
From Gerald Van Waes at http://psychedelicfolk.homestead.com/guitar4.html
Jack Rose : Raag Manifestos (US,2004)*
The music is played as if meant for delivering a kind of 'raga manifesto' for acoustic guitar, directing and pointing all energy in that direction. With a kind of strumming drone effect, with fingerpicking evolution and some intertangling evolution, Jack Rose plays on a few tracks with more energy, and perhaps some aggression compared with what I heard before. This can be heard on "Black Pearls From The River", a track amongst more relaxed moments. Also on "Hart Crane's Old Boyfriends" he's almost "attacking" the guitar strings, creating a denser atmosphere, moving towards an almost out of control meta-acting / directing towards other dimensional realms, by creating an extra drone-like brooding energy, leaving behind some additional drones and echo, which is boozed up by Ian Nagoski's electronica-production work (-this guy is known for his minimal texture solo releases-). "Tower Of Babel" and "Road" on the other hand are welcome-at-the-right time, and work as contra-impulses, with pure acoustic finger-picking raga which was track recorded live. One more track, "Crossing the Great Waters" has also tabla added by Eric Carbonara. Last track, "Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord" is a fine closer, in a calm, and this time, a more bluesy American styled mode.
The CD was published in a limited edition. It was difficult to obtain this, because when I ordered it (in Europe) as soon as it came out, after many weeks of waiting, I was told it was sold out or deleted. Luckily I could still find my copy through some distributor on the net.
Highly recommended.
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