Search - John Shannon :: American Mystic

For those who know John Shannon through his collaborations with such diverse cutting-edge artists as Sonya Kitchell, Pyeng Threadgill, Hiromi and Haale - and through his own evolutionary instrumental group Waking Vision - his debut solo album American Mystic is sure to be an earopener. Having earned a stellar reputation as a team player by injecting his sweeping, panoramic electric guitar vistas into everything from country rock to avant-garde jazz, John Shannon now displays several hitherto unexplored facets of his considerable talent: modern solo folk singer, songwriter and vocalist with a delicate, virtuosic touch on acoustic guitar. Throughout American Mystic's 10 songs, the intimacy and universality of Shannon's songwriting is exposed via his feather-light whisper of a voice. He toys with the timing in his phrasing so that a word might arrive after a slight delay or be extended into the next chord change, and his intricate, closely miked, layered guitar lines - largely acoustic, with some electric guitar texturing - wrap around and complement those words, merging with them seamlessly. His ethereal, contemplative songs are one-on-one, personal narratives. Beginning with "Forgiveness," the album's opening track, Shannon sets up a template that he continues to explore more deeply with each new song as the album unfolds. "Suspended guitar arpeggios and an airy voice. Somewhere between John Martyn and Nick Drake, this 28-year-old American songwriter delivers a hypnotic and timeless premiere album." - Le Monde "Far from the traditional circuits of the majors, John Shannon offers a sumptuous disk of uncluttered folk, making the sky the most beautiful place on earth. ... From 'Butterfly' to 'Somewhere,' the album speaks about the sky as it draws this American Mystic to create his impressive harmonies. ... The album that gathers up all these songs deserves to be at the top of the charts." - Les Inrockuptibles "It's a stripped-down, ethereal set: just an acoustic guitar and Shannon's whispered, barely-treated vocals. The track titles give some insight into Shannon's nature-first brand of mysticism, while the music itself slides neatly next to other 21st century hushed folksters like Damien Rice. An impressive and stately debut" - eMusic "The album is 10 songs of lovely fingerpicked acoustic guitar and Shannon's high, breathy vocals, supported occasionally with touches of droning upright bass, harmonized vocals, delay-drenched electric guitar and other instruments." - Pittsburgh City Paper "In concert, it was clear that Shannon has laid aside his jazz chops and discovered a minimalist, folk-like means of musical expression well-suited to his esoteric, mystical musings. His lyrics - using myths and metaphors - might seem impenetrable to the uninitiated, but there's no doubting the potency of the music, as Butterfly, Lion's Mane and Forgiveness, a plaintive ode of redemption, vividly illustrated." - Charles Waring, Record Collector Magazine "Songs as pure and unfiltered were only known long ago from American folk-heroes like Pete Seeger. Great feeling." - WOM Magazin (Germany)