Customer Reviews

Oracle

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Michael returns to the steel strings guitars to express his music again, before a fatal car accident in northern california. As always, the result is very deep and intense. This album could be related to Aerial Boundaries because of the textures used. It is not as dense as Taproot but shows the work of a fully grown composer as well. His death in december of 97 leaves us all without one of the most complete composers of the last two decades.

This was the first Hedges cd I heard and I went on to get most of the others afterwards. The first three tracks are simply gorgeous as is "Gospel" and "Sofa No. 1" a nice addition for the Zappa fans...

But by far the stand out track is "Baal T'shuvah", an absolutely warm, well-rounded, fingerstyle song that is beyond description. Essential.

Who was Michael Hedges? One of the greatest acoustic guitar players ever, for sure, and a brilliant composer, but much more than that. His total mastery of technique enabled him to transcend the boundaries of his instrument and to speak with a direct connection to his soul. Not a striving to reach such a state, but the outpouring of a true master, of one who has attained it. I hear his music and no longer wonder about the reason for existence. Not to say that all of his music attains this lofty level, but a great deal does. Oracle might not be his best work, (although it is my personal favorite) but it's definitely in the top three.

Always wondered how you would answer the question "if I were stranded on a deserted island, what music would you take?" This one is without a DOUBT at the top of my list. Michael's untimely death STILL wracks me to this day. The man was just beginning to blossom. I can say without hesitation that this CD is the single most important piece of modern acoustic guitar ever made. The emotion laid forth on each and every song is unmatched. Strong enough review for you? Buy it, and if you do not like it, I WILL BUY THE COPY FROM YOU!!! If I had 100 copies of this album, I would be fine with that!
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Here's Michael Hedges at his nearly best (Arial Boundaries still shines brightest in my eyes)..His vocals on 'Tomorrow Never Knows' are simple and clean...it would have been nice if he had been able to live to see his artistry as a guitarist be fully complemented with his talents as a vocalist. A fine addition to any collection.

This album marks a return for Hedges in finger-style technique. Known for his earlier efforts, "Ariel Boundaries"/"Breakfast in the Field", that demonstrated finger-style playing....Hedges followed up with some collaborative efforts and non-finger-style albums.

This is a return the the original techniques.....AND ITS BEAUTIFULL!

I ordered this CD as a Christmas gift. The shipping was fast and the CD is absolutely wonderful. Michael Hedges was a true musician.

I saw Michael Hedges as a special guest at the New York State Fair warming up for Crosby,Stills and Nash in the summer of 96.David Crosby came out and told the crowd that he had seen all of the greats when it came to playing guitar and no one came close to the man you are about to see...I mean it.For the next 40 minutes or so he showed us that everthing David said about him was abundently true playing with a mastery and ease as I had never seen a guitar played before.As a budding guitar player,who had only just a short time earlier heard the amazing John Fahey for the first time and was still reeling from THAT,needless to say,I was stunned by the experience.
From that great experience,I went and bought this disc which was played immediately and repeated for others in the days and weeks to come....it was like a breathe of fresh air.As someone who loves music and knows when he is in the presence of greatness,I recommend this disc and hope it touches you the way it touched me all those years ago.Baal T`shuvah may be one of the best solo acoustic pieces I have ever heard.

This album topped Hedges works. A very expressive and consuming list of songs which run together to create the perfect epilogue for one outstanding and gifted musician.

This album features some of Mr. Hedges fine guitar work. More mature and choreographed sound than in Live on the Double Planet. Melencholy yet righteous overall feel. This album should not be forgotten.