Liam Grant 8211 Prodigal Son LP

\”VHF debut and second widely-available LP byLiam Grant, part of a new generation of underground \’American primitive\’ guitar players serving the traditions and smashing them up simultaneously.Prodigal Sonis a portrait of an artist on the road, changing fast, recording things as they spring from the fountain. The sound here is raw — grass and dirt instead of pre-fab; homemade/handmade instead of high-tech, etc. There\’s a visceral quality and immediacy of culture that\’s being lost every day in modern life —Prodigal Sonis a chance to grab some of it back. \’Palmyra\’ has Liam on weissenborn-style lap steel, the sound fuzzed out and distorted by the guerilla recording technique. \’Salmon Tails Up The River\’ stretches out to nearly 13 minutes, a dense meditation on 12 string that sustains a dark and heavy mood for the entire duration. On the B side, \’Insult to Injury\’ reverses the mood, with an elegant and unhurried 12 string sequel of deep beauty. Liam\’s unexpected take onLoren Conners\’ \’A Moment at the Door\’ is a perfect translation of Loren\’s reverb-heavy electric drift to unadorned acoustic (and tape hiss) — a frozen moment of absolute grace. Wrapping things up is a take on \’Old Country Rock,\’ with fiddle and banjo, just a brief taste of the barnstorming old-time sound of Liam\’s touring trio.\”