Rock / Indie / 50s / 60s Recommendations March 2015

Review: A legendary figure in British folk and experimental circles, and something of a pioneer of primitive guitar, Michael Chapman's impact is comparable to that of the work of John Fahey across the Atlantic. Yet despite his career starting in the '60s, he's had something of a late renaissance, with his work heralded by the likes of Thurston Moore and Will Oldham, the former of whom appears here. The Polar Bear is the third in Chapman's series of critically acclaimed improvisational and experimental works for Blast First, and continues the good work in style, mixing his unique and potent guitar filigree with minimalist shapes, orchestration, noise and a restless sense of innovation uncommon to performers of 73 years of age.