Album Reviews:
1965: The Transfiguration of Blind Joe Death
The Transfiguration of Blind Joe Death
Album: Genre Classic, 9/10 | Released: 1965 | Specific Genre: American Primitivism Main Genre: Folk, Contemporary Folk, Progressive Folk | Undertones: Acoustic Blues, Spirituals | Label: Riverboat Records
Long forgotten, stubborn rituals
Small, obstinate tunes carved into sharp, crystalline folk forms – I don’t know which album should serve as an entry point to Fahey’s various recordings, but why not this one? It finds him exploring miniature formats, as opposed to long-winded ones, intricately arranged and translated into a fingerpicking guitar language that is weird and wildflowery, yet seem to follow some long forgotten, stubborn rituals.
The basis is folk and blues – simple forms. But the idiom isn’t. There is no way to classify this as neo-classicism or even avant-garde, sonically or formally, but it is far removed from the roots it takes as working material. It’s really hard to pin-point what it is – besides the virtuosity and the weird tunings, these are just the mechanisms. It’s the blues being played in the spirit of a Japanese stone garden, but with wry humour.
Whatever it is, it is one thing: Crisp and beautiful. Soothing, with a surprise around every crooked lick, every corner. Fahey can be almost stark on this record – but when he digs into the melody, when he really pushes a folk blues drone, like on “I Am the Resurrection”, it is unique and hypnotizing. Generally, the album taught me something straight-forward: It might not be your thing, but if you hear it, Fahey’s odd playing is everything his devotees tell you it is.
Text Lambrecht 