Michael Ackerman - It Takes A Year

Windham Hill records tends to specialize in the remarkable ability to take music, and suck everything interesting and exciting out of it, leaving records that doctors can play in their waiting rooms and no one will complain, because they don't even notice the music is playing. I received this record in a giant pile of discarded ones found in an alley, and probably would not have bought it on my own. It consists of a number of solo guitar pieces that are flawlessly played, but aren't complicated enough to sound flawlessly played. On a couple tracks on the second side, rhythm comes pretty close to appearing, but is held in check. At times the playing approaches the style of Leo Kottke or John Fahey, but it never goes far enough out on a limb to be confused for either of those masters. I thought it might take a year to get to the end of the record. If someone gives it to you for free, put it on when timid souls enter the living room. Otherwise, avoid.