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review by Bill Binkelman This is acoustic guitarist Posen's second album (Triple Heater being the first) and it is a showcase for the Toronto-based musician's dazzling talent in the fingerpicking, flat-picking and percussive styles of playing the instrument. Think of him as traveling in the same circles as the late Michael Hedges or Rob Eberhard-Young and you'll know what to expect from the eleven tracks on Listening Hands. "Sans Souci" opens the CD in high-spirited fashion, with Posen's hands flying over the strings and fretboard. "South Portage Lake Road," though, slows things down considerably, showing that Posen is not just about fireworks but also knows how to craft a more subdued evocative number as well (although to the trained ear, this track is also full of some deft fingering). Only one track is longer than the usual (for acoustic guitarists, that is) three-to-four minute span. "3 Portals, 3 Keys" is almost seven-minutes long as it explores a warm, unconventional yet accessible, slow winding melody path to its conclusion. The song goes through several permutations, some more uptempo than others, but all of it is refreshingly clear of cliché or the usual approach to "new age" guitar music. Some titles give an indication what's coming, such as "Passing Lane," which hints at the high-speed "chase" of the song, albeit with a hint of darkness courtesy of some minor key tonality. "Wind Flowers" is appropriately "pretty" and delicate, although also sprightly (the juxtaposition of "wind" and "flowers" no doubt). "Borderline Blues" is, of course, somewhat bluesy, yet is also unique and has Posen doing some of his most adventurous work on his instrument. I liked the sly wit of "Django Townshend" (guitar fans will obviously get the title's joke) and yes, it sounds like what you'd expect that collaboration to produce! "Oroborous" has a gentle subdued feeling to it, like autumn afternoons. However, even here Posen is not taking you for a "slow walk" per se. Even on the softer tracks, Listening Hands was still powerful and complex. But where others might veer over the line towards showy pyrotechnics, leaving the "casual fan" of guitar instrumentals shrugging his/her shoulders, Martin Posen is obviously trying to win the hearts of the aficionado as well as the listener who simply likes to hear acoustic guitar played with heart and soul. Trying to succeed at both these goals is an ambitious goal - but one that Posen accomplishes with ease. Listening Hands merits a solid recommendation from me as an example of offering up fiery playing without alienating those who wouldn't know an open tuning from an open door! |
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