Customer Reviews

Aerial Boundaries

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Anyone interested in discovering the massive changes in contemporary acoustic guitar playing perpetrated by just one man, this is the mandatory first step. Aerial Boundaries is, without doubt, the record that presented Michael Hedges to the world as the ultimate acoustic guitar visionary, stretching the limits of the instrument to accomodate his uncanny musical ideas. I was fortunate enough to meet him on various occasions, and to study with John Stropes, responsible for his transcription work. On such occasions, Hedges told me that, despite the fact that he felt the necessity of evolving his music, this was his most accurate attempt to revolutionize the way the acoustic guitar should sound. Without question, his best and most essential recording.

The biggest problem with any Michael Hedges album is that few stereo systems will do his sound any justice. Hearing him perform live in close-quarters setting forever changed the way I listen to solo guitar. He was an eccentric and very entertaining performer, and his absence leaves an unfillable cavity. I'll never forget his much-improved version of Madonna's "Lucky Star" or him spinning around and around in a tight circle--a smoking cigarette stuck in the end of his guitar--dizzying the audience with his weird, wacky style and amazing talent. It would have been a cheap gimmick if almost anyone else had done this, but Hedges had the soul of a child who truly loved making music for our enjoyment.

Just listen to the sample tracks provided by Amazon and you'll know whether or not you "get" Michael Hedges. Master of fast finger techniques, his tracks lay down layer upon layer of musical complexity and every piece stretches the dynamic range of the instument. He can be seductively quiet and suddenly explosive. Slow or fast, timid or thunderous, Hedges' playing almost never bores you if you know how to listen. But active listening isn't required: This album won't punish or distract you if you just pop in this familiar CD for background music for other activities. A must-have for those who like alternative instrumental music.

I first heard of Michael Hedges on a Windham Hill Sampler(1984, I think). Aerial Boundaries was the song, and I was immediately interested, enthralled, and hooked...I checked the albumn's liner notes about the song, as it clearly sounded like two guitars, or three, being played at once! I was sure it was overdubbed, but I was wrong. I went out and bought Aerial Boundaries, and it clearly says that it was 'recorded live' with no overdubs. Astounding! I was an instant fan of Hedges as a result of this albumn, and now own all of his available CD's/albumns. However, I was saddenned by his tragic passing in 1997. The world lost a master of the guitar. Hedges shines in Aerial Boundaries, one of his technically best albumns. Buy it!

And from one of the greatest performers and guitarists of all time. If you are new to Michael Hedges, start here, and you will begin to understand why the man has such devoted fans years after his death. Truly one of my great pleasures in life is listening to Aerial Boundaries, especially the title song, in the car as I drive in the rain. The entire album is other-worldly.

His music is surpassed only by his performances. I only wish every fan of Michael could have seen him perform in person. My freshman year of college some friends roped me into seeing Michael in a small club in Grand Rapids, MI. My friends knew of Michael because he attended Interlochen near where they grew up. As fate would have it, we ended up very early for the show and were literally the second people on line for tickets. I sat no more than fifteen feet from the microphone. Although I had heard his music only two or three times before that night, I was left in such awe that half the time I could not even applaud after a song. I sat there salivating, drool dripping out of my open mouth. I had never seen someone disect a guitar like that before (and have not since), and I had never experienced the sound that could be produced with nothing but a guitar. It truly was a religious experience.

This is simply an incredible album. The only fault is that it is so short (only 30 minutes of music), but looking back the man's collection of work overcomes this rookie oversight.

...of my appreciation for what it means to let a guitar dance. In 1985 a friend with whom I shared an appreciation of Will Ackerman's records, told me to follow him into a room else where. I arrived and heard "Aerial Boundaries." The title track took flight in a way that is difficult for me to describe with words. Then the variety of hand dancing styles on other tracks make this an album to listen to from beginning to end.
Around 1998 I saw, for the first time, videos of Michael Hedges playing gigs. He danced while his guitar music danced.
I've seen hours and hours of Trip Wamsley's gigs. He plays with passion and an innovative improvisational style that reminds me of Hedge's dexterity. Yet Trip's body doesn't dance.
I encourage listeners to learn how to dance to the tunes of this album. This album will take you to distant places

I watched Mike when he was a child. He was always so creative. Mike would come to me with his guitar and say, "Hey, Susie, what do you think about this song I just made up?" He could play anything on any musical instrument that I would hand him. Mike and his family moved away, and Mike grew up. All of a sudden I see Mike on TV! The funny thing is that I was not surprised in the least. Michael Hedges was talented. His music reflects the deep emotion he felt about life. I never saw Mike when he was not caring about some person in need,etc. Aerial Boundaries is one of my favorites, and today I am buying this as a gift to a new pilot that has just earned his wings! Mike was a free spirit, that is for sure, and he traveled the world making people feel better about themselves and about life. Just before Mike died, he came back to his home town and gave a concert. It was out of this world!! I not only recommend this CD, I think that everyone should own all of his CD's. You know how you buy a CD and then you may like three songs on it? This will not happen on a Mike Hedges CD. I have never heard a Michael Hedges song that I did not like. I own all of his CD's that I know of. I am still mourning the loss of Michael Hedges. I will cherish his memory forever. Mike was a free spirit, a gifted musician, and an all around good person. He is the best New Age artist that I have found. He could play anything that he wanted. He chose New Age. Cash in on his talents.

The finest acoustic guitar album since Leo Kottke's live set at the Guthrie. Hedges was a true visionary, and the only thing wrong with this early set is that it only shows one side of the continually evolving performer. [He had a great spirit of joy and humor, and for example used to do a hilarious version of "She Drives Me Crazy" on stage.] Listen to the title cut, and then ponder this: he could make all those sounds *live*, with one single guitar; you can watch him do it on the Windham Hill video SOLACE. His untimely passing was a great loss.

This is the best acoustic guitar CD I've ever heard. Upon first hearing it, I loved it and that's rare for a solo acoustic CD which has a high chance of being boring or background music. There's nothing predictable in his music and there's lots of surprises. There's a couple reviews here that talk about the sound quality - it sounds great on my stereo. It would be nice to have it remastered or possibly SACD, but ....

This album is the Seargent Pepper of the acoustic guitar. More than any other album Aerial Boundaries represents the reinvention of the instrument by its equivalent of Paganini. Hedges' incredible imagination, technique, and passion all unite to present the acoustic guitar as an instrument that was relatively unexplored prior to this recording. It's been almost 20 years now since it was released, and I'm still in awe of what Michael Hedges produced with this album. A true masterpiece.

describe how the telescope was originally invented by accident and thought to be maybe a useful gadget for war by its unimaginative inventor and not until Galileo got his hands on one was its true potential revealed.

The music on this recording flies in the face of everyone who considers the 6-string steel guitar a gadget of unimaginative folkies.

The music is breathtaking and the technique is jaw-dropping. Of the 2000+ recordings I own, this is in the top 5.