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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 37, Number 8. April 24 1972

Ice Water: Leo Kottke. Capital disc

Ice Water: Leo Kottke. Capital disc.

In seedy little record shops in seedy American suburbs they probably have lots of reduced discs by three guys called Robbie Basho, John Fahey and Leo Kottke, all of whom used to record for Fahey's seedy little Takoma label. Which is unfair and unjust because they're probably the finest acoustic guitarists in America. Fahey and Co. have been churning out LPs for about five years now, and there's no real sign of the fickle finger marking them out for the Big Break. They play a kind of Appalachian reggae; long, weaving virtuoso pieces that milk most of American folk traditions along the way. They have names like "The Dance of Blind Joe Death". It's quiet, beautiful and self controlled music played with a taste and economy that will ensure continued obscurity for all three.

Fahey is the most famous. He rediscovered John Hurt and Skip James years ago; he wrote a book about Charley Patton, and his music turned up briefly in "Zabriskic Point". Basho is the most sensual, and uses a lot of Eastern ideas. Kottke could possibly be the most commercial. On this, his third Capitol LP, he does the best Tom T. Hall song I've ever heard, and some brilliant material of his own. This guy also plays the best 12 string guitar you'll hear any-where! Fast, complex, perfectly controlled and quite subordinated to the needs of the material. And he has a rich but deadpan voice, very much like Ry Cooder. In fact if Ry Cooder was fat, he'd probably sound a lot like Leo Kottke. The raves in this review are all well earned. Just wish it would work a miracle and get someone to release the Takoma catalogue in this country.