The Glass Bead Game

by James Blackshaw

The Glass Bead Game cover art

Named after the Herman Hesse novel, this gorgeous instrumental record sees the virtuosic 12-string guitarist expanding his sonic palette significantly. The album introduces grand piano, sweeping cello, and delicate vocal counterpoints to support his incredibly rapid, cascading acoustic fingerpicking. The resulting compositions are deeply hypnotic, bridging the gap between American primitive folk and European classical minimalism.

Genres

  • American Primitivism
  • Post-Minimalism

Tracklist

  1. Cross
  2. Bled
  3. Fix
  4. Key
  5. Arc