Daniel Bachman :: Watermelon Slices On A Blue Bordered Plate

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While some of his neo-Takoma School peers have plugged in and/or headed in more straightforward singer-songwriter directions, Daniel Bachman’s focus remains firmly on the acoustic guitar. And that’s a very good thing. Bachman’s new self-titled effort on Three Lobed Records is a master class in fingerpicking and slide guitar that’s deeply felt and skillfully rendered.

Check out the unassuming perfection of  “Watermelon Slices on a Blue Bordered Plate,” wherein Bachman unfolds an easygoing tune into a kind of cosmic purity. It’s a piece that can stand proudly next to the similar jams by Jack Rose and John Fahey — meaning there’s serious magic at work here. Elsewhere, the guitarist digs into two explorations of “Brightleaf Blues,” each moody note hanging like an unanswered question, accompanied by a drone that somehow shifts from piercing to warm and enveloping, filtering the light, stained glass-style. And the gorgeous version of the old hymn “Farther Along” is a serene prayer and a well-earned closer. Bachman is in it for the long haul, and we’re all lucky for it. words / t wilcox

Daniel Bachman :: Watermelon Slices On A Blue Bordered Plate

Related: The Lagniappe Sessions :: Daniel Bachman covers Jack Rose / William Moore

2 thoughts on “Daniel Bachman :: Watermelon Slices On A Blue Bordered Plate

  1. What an incredible body of work he’s out together in just a few short years! I love puttering around in the garden of this man’s mind.

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