Customer Reviews

In Search of the Turtle's Navel

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This is Will Ackerman's first album, and sometimes, in some ways, I think it's one of his best. Keep in mind that this is a younger, brasher Ackerman, not very far at all from the modern fingerpicking traditions of John Fahey, Robbie Basho, and Leo Kottke. Rhythm, pattern, and melody line, played with the vigor of a good steel string. This album makes the connection between the west coast style and the more polished and controlled musician of the Windham Hill years.

Ackerman gives himself away in his titles - Like 'Pink Chiffon Tricycle Queen', 'Slow Motion Roast Beef Restaurant Seduction', and 'What the Buzzard Told Suzanne.' This isn't about meditating to guitar music, it's about playing, listening, and appreciating the find work of a player/composer who went on to make a very significant mark in new age and jazz music.

Some of these pieces, like processional, will reappear in different forms as Ackerman develops as a performer. Here it displays considerable muscle and surface tension. Later it will become more contemplative and inward bound. These early albums reveal the soloist side of the musician. In later years he will become more interested in cooperative efforts. None of it any less than great, by I keep coming back to the simple presentation he uses here, where he doesn't need to modulate the strength of his presentation.

Of course, you can start anywhere with Will Ackerman and be satisfied, but tracking down his old work it a chance for a great treat.

This CD was Will Ackerman's first CD, recorded in 1976, its solo new age guitar years before Ackerman took the helm of Windham Hill.

I mean there are early renditions of his hit "processional" on this recording. That is very unique.

This CD rates up there with Michael Hedges "aerial boundaries", George Winston's "December" & Alex De Grassi's "Turning: Turning Back". Yet even preceding all those classics ....

You wont go wrong with this, beautifull solo acoustic guitar music.

William Ackerman was working as a house builder back in the mid-70s in the region that is now called Silicon Valley. He played guitar on the side. He wrote a number of tunes and his friends kept telling him he should release a record. So, he started his own record label and issued this record.

Obviously inspired by John Fahey (especially in the song titles) this is pure solo guitar music. It is not my favorite record by Will Ackerman. There are some very nice moments (and tunes) here but overall, its just not brilliant. His next two records (It Takes a Year, and Childhood and Memory) are vastly superior.

I'm very glad Will made this record, started Windham Hill and gave up construction in favor of music. However, that doesn't make this a great record.