Michael Hedges
Taproot

Native of Oklahoma, Michael Hedges approached music at the age of four, starting with the piano, then moving on to the cello, clarinet, and flute. He eventually arrived at the guitar, deepening his study at the Baltimore Conservatory, developing an extremely personal guitar technique.

His musical culture combines Beatles, P.Metheny, B.Bartok, S.Reich, and N.Young. He employs partial barré achieved with both hands. He strikes and pulls the strings, producing fascinating effects. He exploits harmonics and uses resonances with experience, achieving results that are at times very sweet and at other times anxious. Sometimes he plays the Harp Guitar, a special double-neck instrument built specifically for him. In 1980 he met W.Ackerman (Windham Hill), who allowed him to record his first album in 1982. "Taproot" presents Hedges (after six years from the excellent "Aerial Boundaries") in his attained artistic maturity, also showing himself to be a valid multi-instrumentalist. The album is presented as a sort of autobiographical concept album and draws inspiration from J.Campbell. Through the elaboration of myths, Hedges allows certain aspects of existence to become more comprehensible, which would otherwise remain enigmatic. The sound of the recording is as crystalline and sophisticated as all (or nearly all) W.Hill productions. In certain respects, it is difficult to compare it to the incredible Aerial Boundaries, but it can certainly be said that this "Taproot" is less exuberant and immediate, but over time penetrates more deeply into the human soul.

All the tracks possess elegance and a slight melancholy, difficult to describe exhaustively. I will briefly mention just a few. In the little jewels "Point A" and "Point B", Hedges explores the possibilities of the TransTrem guitar invented by Ned.Steinberger, which includes a kind of Whammy-bar allowing note modulation while maintaining tuning. In the magnificent "Song Of The Spirit Farmer", Michael plays the flute magnificently. "The Rootwitch", a typical acrobatic piece by Hedges. The album concludes with "I Carry Your Heart" (with lyrics by E.E.Cummings) sung by Hedges. Highlighted are M.Manring (bass), D.Crosby & G.Nash (harmony vocals).

In conclusion, a small masterpiece not to be forgotten. Worth noting is the cover, very essential yet loaded with meaning (rating 3.5 recurring).

PS: "I dedicate this review to M.Hedges, who passed away on the evening of November 30, 1997, after falling into a ravine with his car."