Staff Reviews

James Blackshaw - Love Is The Plan, The Plan Is Death

Review by Patrick Smith

While this isn't a mainstream record, it's perhaps James Blackshaw at his most accessible. He’s done better work, but this is a continuation in the career of one of the most compelling British musicians. What he does next will be worth looking out for.»

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written at a time of great emotional disquiet, the hauntingly beautiful and bittersweet ninth full-length studio album, 'love is the plan, the plan is death', from british guitarist-composer njames blackshaw was recorded at soma electronic music studios, chicago in december 2011 by engineer andrew hernandez (balmorhea). the six original pieces contained on the album (whose titles are lovingly misappropriated from those of short stories by the late, great science fiction author james tiptree jr aka alice b. sheldon,) are based alternately around nylon-string classical guitar and grand piano, with spare and subtle vibraphone and b3 organ parts overdubbed by blackshaw himself. genevive beaulieu
(menace ruine/preterite) adds her stunning and powerful voice and words to track 'and i have come upon this place by lost ways'. 'love is the plan' is an incredibly warm and intimate recording and perhaps blackshaw's most concise, consistent and overtly melodic to date. "one of the best and most original instrumentalists in the new, acoustic renaissance" - david fricke, rolling stone
description from www.roughtrade.com