HARRIS NEWMAN Non-Sequiturs (Strange Attractors) Rating: NNNN
Rating: NNNNN
Harris Newman makes instrumental music centred on his acoustic guitar finger-picking. He takes aspects of North American folk music (bluegrass, country, blues) and twists it with odd harmonies and a dark, moody atmosphere. This is one of those albums that’s experimental in a very subtle way – if you’re not listening closely it almost sounds like “normal” folk music, but closer attention reveals a truly adventurous mind. Newman is closely associated with the Constellation Records scene in Montreal, and percussionist Bruce Cawdron is a member of Godspeed You Black Emperor! If you’re familiar with them, you’ll have some idea of the attitude Newman takes on this project. John Fahey would be another obvious reference point, but, thankfully, he’s not really ripping off the late guitarist as much as respectfully referencing him.
