Chapman, Michael / Trainsong : Guitar Compositions 1967-2010
Album: Trainsong : Guitar Compositions 1967-2010   Collection:General
Artist:Chapman, Michael   Added:May 2012
Label:Tompkins Square  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2012-09-28 Pull Date: 2012-11-30
Week Ending: Dec 2 Oct 28 Oct 21
Airplays: 1 3 2

Recent Airplay
1. Nov 29, 2012: The Sunset Life
Ponchatoulah
4. Oct 25, 2012: The Sunset Life
Rockport Sunday
2. Oct 26, 2012: no voices aloud
Sweet Little Friend From Georgia, Naked Ladies And Electric Ragtime
5. Oct 19, 2012: The Songsmith Show
Naked Ladies And Electric Ragtime
3. Oct 26, 2012: The Songsmith Show
Sensimilia
6. Oct 18, 2012: The Sunset Life
The Last Polish Breakfast

Album Review
Be Sharp
Reviewed 2012-09-08
Englishman Michael Chapman (b 1941) is a folk-ish singer/songwriter/guitarist. This 2CD compilation is just solo guitar work, and he’s a very good guitarist indeed (both finger picking and flat picking). Guitars and tunings are listed in the notes: most tracks are on acoustic guitars; a few use two different resonator guitars; just a couple are electric.

Solo guitar. No FCC issues.

Disc 1
1 Mid-fast. Heavy on the bass strings. Circular, mesmerizing theme. (5:26)
2 Mid-fast. Similar to #1. Even heavier bass runs. Shimmering sound on treble. (8:51)
3 Mid-fast. Using a slide on a resonator in a flattened tuning. Sounds like practice. (4:08)
4 * Mid-slow. Layers of different sound and technique make this one interesting. (5:04)
5 ** Mid-tempo, bluesy, soulful. Call & response b/t different ranges on the guitar. (3:30)
6 ** Fast. A slightly country-ish toe-tapper. Very technical. A lot of fun. (4:00)
7 Mid-slow. New Agey & pastoral. Lots of dreamy arpeggios. (4:14)
8 Slow, bluesy crawl on a Fender Stratocaster with knobs set to maximum hum. (3:22)
9 Mid-tempo, then faster. A playful little ditty (a few bars long) played over & over. (2:37)
10 Mid-fast. Similar to 1,2. Foggy, shimmering amorphousness, goes round & round (6:44)
11 ** Fast. Finger-style tour de force reminiscent of “Classical Gas.” Impressive. (2:23)
12 * Mid-tempo. Pretty, singable folk-style melody backed up with a lot of depth. (3:45)
13 Mid-tempo. Heavy bass line, lots of string bending, some harmonic overtones. (5:06)

Disc 2
1 *** Mid-tempo. Country blues like Taj Mahal’s “Fishin Blues.” Very nice picking. (2:45)
2 Mid-tempo. Pleasant background music. More a calm, soothing feeling than a song. (3:38)
3 ** Mid-fast. A fun, bluesy lick played on a resonator. Played a bit loose. (3:38)
4 * Fast & fun. Funky on bass strings, showy on treble up & down the neck. (4:33)
5 Mid-tempo. Lazy, hazy, and all mellowed out, as the name implies. (5:14)
6 Mid-tempo. Yet another piece of nice, mellow background music. (3:09)
7 ** Mid-fast, powerful & compelling. Middle section played with a slide. (4:07)
8 * Slow. Like an old English folk song. (Think of “Greensleeves”) (2:16)
9 * Mid-tempo, lively. Like the accompaniment of a folk song. (3:12)
10 * Mid-tempo. Bluesy. Hard, dramatic playing on a resonator with a slide. (2:17)
11 Fast, yet still peaceful & calming. Impressionistic (but I can’t say of what). (3:38)
12 Mid-tempo. Dirty, funky, swampy, bluesy riffs on electric guitar. (5:20)
13 Mid-fast. An unusual blend of feelings. Opens with a somewhat Classical style (though on steel strings), then adds some real bluesy string bending. (7:53)


Track Listing
1. The Last Polish Breakfast   14. Naked Ladies And Electric Ragtime
2. Little Molly's Dream   15. Ponchatoulah
3. Fahey's Flag   16. Wellington The Skellington
4. Rockport Sunday   17. Silverking
5. Sunday Morning   18. Sensimilia
6. Sweet Little Friend From Georgia   19. Thurston's House
7. Elinkine   20. Thank You Pk 1944
8. New Chord Blues   21. The Coming Of The Roads
9. Uncle Jack/Looking For Charlie   22. Sometimes
10. Caddo Lake   23. Extrabop
11. Theme From The Movie Of The Same Name   24. Trying Times
12. Stranger's Map Of Texas   25. Hi Heel Sneakers
13. Slowcoach   26. La Madrugada