As long-time admirers of his six and twelve-string wizardry,
Amish Records is very excited to announce the release of
James Blackshaw’s (kinda) new album, ‘Unraveling In Your
Hands’. Originally released digitally in November 2024, solely
on James’ Bandcamp, the album is now widely available on all
digital music services and the LP version coming in July.
The album marks the first music James has released since his
self-imposed hiatus in 2016. After much personal tumult
including a broken shoulder, the loss of his job and the death
of his beloved dog Dexter, James finally felt the pull back to
music. He begun to work, not even knowing if his injury would
allow him to play the guitar, and then, late last year
‘Unraveling In Your Hands’ quietly appeared.
The title track is the album’s center piece, a 27-minute
meditation of precise guitar phrasings and shimmering
harmonics, recorded in a single take. In UNCUT, Jon Dale says
it’s “an unrelenting, hypnotic stream of shivering strings, tiny
flecks of light dazzling as you plunge deep into the repetition,
while following a snaky melody through the thickets – is
certainly unforgettable.” “Dexter" is a somber piece with a
minimal organ melody enveloped by droning woodwinds and
scratching strings provided by multi-instrumentalist and long-
time collaborator, Charlotte Glasson. Finally, "Why Keep Still?"
moves back into familiar sonic territory with fingerpicked
guitar accompanied by rolling piano notes. Pitchfork gave the
album an 8.0 rating, stating, "The lucidity and beauty of this
music feels hard-won, something to revere and cherish."
Inspired by the 60’s Takoma school of American Primitive
guitar, minimalist composers and European classical music,
James Blackshaw b. 1981 has been highly regarded for his
works for solo acoustic guitar since his debut album in 2003,
employing fingerpicking techniques to create drones,
overtones and repeating patterns, alongside a strong
inclination for melody, to create instrumental music that is
both intelligent, hypnotic and emotional. James Blackshaw has
released eleven solo studio albums, two EPs, two live
recordings and appeared on numerous compilations, receiving
praise and earning places on Best of Year lists from many
online and printed publications.
