Xanthe Terra

Charlie Schmidt | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 7, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Strange Attractors
• ASIN: B0009JDBX0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #466,004 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

In the early 1990's John Fahey was requested to re-record his 2nd album for re-release. As a ruse, Fahey had Schmidt record it as Fahey! In order to be compensated, 4 new "bonus" tracks were included, Charlie Schmidt originals. Long in the making, his debut is finally seeing the light of day & it is a stunner; melancholic musings & gorgeous melodies are offered like midnight prayers through ringing & singing wood & steel. Following firmly in the American Primitive footsteps of John Fahey, Robbie Basho & Peter Lang, Xanthe Terra is glorious guitar soli, an important new work to the new acoustic movement

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars John Fahey, Eat Your Heart Out!, June 27, 2005

By 

Jeffrey Hess (Richfield, MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Xanthe Terra (Audio CD)

All I can say is, what a remarkable recording! Charlie has Fahey's style down cold, but adds his own colors, tastes, and talent to this collection. Taking Stravinsky's "Firebird" and transcribing it to the American Primitive style--pure genius. "Doggie Blues" has a terrific groove to it, and his choice of the tune 'Ah, Holy Jesus' for "Hymn" closes out the CD in a beautiful manner. The music is diverse, yet seems to fit with the Xanthe Terra theme (it is a region of Mars "about the size of the American Midwest"), with its open expanses and striking dissonances in the context of a peaceful surrounding.

Hope to hear more from this young man in the future!