James Blackshaw - Cross (The Glass Bead Game)

[heymanniceshot1]

if anyone knows how i can get a hold of apologia, i'd be eternally in your debt

[BSidnyrB]

Awesome! :D 

[zerotheking1993]

33333 views D:

[TucoPunx]

Greatest Acoustic Song Ever Made

[phelipethiago]

This song is beutifull 

[lightmakesnoise]

I am lifted. I am stunned.

[grizzwaldo]

I'm going to see this fella supporting SWANS end of October and ah canny wait,,,,,,,:-)

[untiltheend22]

@grizzwaldo

Swans is such a fucking awesome band

pity i missed it

[grizzwaldo]

@untiltheend22 It was fucking amazing pal, second time seeing SWANS, first time for James. I have the whole SWANS set from the arches but sound aint so good. Check it out

[wccrispy]

I wish this was part of a heavy metal song.

[DrShakes92]

@wccrispy I'm glad it's not.

[wccrispy]

@DrShakes92 :) It's some beautiful stuff. I've heard similarly moving sounds from metal bands.

[AllanWellsfanclub]

truly has an ear for a beguiling tune does Mr Blackshaw (not Bradshaw). With much hilarity do I read the ego-driven missives of the oneupmanship merchants. Egads.

[MaltaMetal]

i feel rly fortunate that he came to Malta and that my girlfriend dragged me his concert, it was absolutely brilliant, i rly enjoyed it!, and he was also supported by Nancy Elizabeth who was also rly good. gr8 stuff

[GirlMakesSomeNoise]

on 12 string!?! how?! wow!

[gward75]

He's obvously very good, but he's playin a simple travis pickin' pattern which is a little dull - he's no Gary Davis, if you get my point... But nice video.

[plectrum63]

Don't you find his compositions repetitive, single chord, drones! I find them quite boring and I am a musician! I can't start appreciating his compositions or the tunes he plays - while not doubting his talent! I can't understand why such hype about this particular musician. Haven't you ever heard of Tommy Emmanuel maybe?!!!

[pootnikalexander]

Herman Hesse Magister Ludi or the Glass Bead Game must have been it's inspiration...excellent composition.

[jonny909]

what's the fingering pattern?

[manorlordy]

like bibio

[AShaddeau]

Here's the tuning  BGBDAD

[wibba]

i can't believe my ears. reaaally really good.

[Jinx8602]

so. so. so. beautiful.

saw him last summer in toronto, he was an opener for michael gira of swans. it was pretty much a perfect show.

[KillerOfBlueberries]

I love this guy

[JoeBlue727]

A very special talent indeed. He times his music perfectly and knows just the right moment to introduce another part of the composition to the listener without sounding neither too rushed nor repetitive.

I thoroughly enjoyed "The Glass Bead Game" particularly because of all the different sounds he's started to incorporate into his music and the fact he hasn't got bogged down with the idea of being just a solo guitarist.

I look forward to many more years of this wonderful artist.

[russelsheartinacage]

well said my man

[plectrum63]

@JoeBlue727 Don't you find his compositions repetitive, single chord, drones! I find them quite boring and I am a musician! I can't start appreciating his compositions or the tunes he plays - while not doubting his talent! I can't understand why such hype about this particular musician. Haven't you ever heard of Tommy Emmanuel maybe?!!!

[aboveaxis]

@plectrum63 Why does the ability to make touching music and seeming "virtuosity" have to walk hand in hand? Can't you just take it for what it is - music. Some sounds good and touches you, some doesn't. Not everyone wants to hear some guy show you how much he practices his instrument :-)

Also, as a musician, you should already know that drones and repetition serve a very important role and purpose in music, when used in the right context. 1 note can speak louder than 100, space, timbre etc etc

[plectrum63]

@aboveaxis Maybe because his music sounds boring! Yes one note can speak louder than 100. Maybe you should then listen to Lee Ritenour! It seems that most of you here speaking with "authority" have very little musical culture. Just a small list of really good guitarists who can really "touch" you - Vincente Amigo, Tomatito, Earl Klugh, Lee Ritenour, Al Di Meola, Tommy Emmanuel.

[plectrum63]

@aboveaxis I can assure you that I can compose dozens of such drones should I want to - and not become star as he seems to have become - simply because I don't have anyone to push me into stardom (I live on the miniscule island of Malta where opportunities are near to none). What this Bradshaw plays I was playing as a teen-ager just to pass my time!

[heymanniceshot1]

@plectrum63 then post some of your stuff, i'd love to hear something this beautiful. not to be confrontational-i honestly would. i love this kind of shit

[SirWolfelion]

@plectrum63

i played similar music as well before i listened to JB. i don't brag about it though and it doesn't take away from JB's beautiful compositions.

[Cj12sings]

Thanks so much for posting this, my introduction to James Blackshaw, I've dropped all to start working on " River of Heaven " this is such, great, great music !!!!!!!!

regards

cj

[ECguitar4]

There really is no one better than James when it comes to this kind of music. He's a genius...

[Basketballerke]

You said it all. He's the only one who can really move me when it comes to this genre.

[Hekerui]

Awesome. Thanks for uploading!

[gammainn]

Wow...

[neonneon21]

amazing stuff..magic music..i love all his music..

[arthurspooner60]

Instrumental version? You what?

[russelsheartinacage]

as in not the full studio version

[arthurspooner60]

pfft why the thumbs down. i assumed by instrumental it meant the version without vocals, when obviously there are no vocals in any of james blackshaws songs

kthxbi

(good song)

[spiralisedcat]

beutiful sound,12 string are a **** to play he plays with grace.

[russelsheartinacage]

how's your finger picking coming along!? i hope you've been practising rob

[spiralisedcat]

hehe i have been practasing a bit,To wrapped up in writing songs at the moment,but im looking forward to mastering picking in the future,My mated in a band called dusty knees and he picks amazingly like yourself.The thumb is the hardbit hehe

[russelsheartinacage]

it's a matter of starting really simple, play any chord and use the thumb on base strings, and gradually pick out a melody

[sugartits918]

@russelsheartinacage start with stairway to heaven or tonight tonight by smashing pumpkins...good starters

[jaadtoly23]

thanks

[teddybwarm]

Wow that's awesome. was wondering who was watching lol, so the end shot was quite cool. love how "full" his sound is even on the streets!

[russelsheartinacage]

yeah the camera must be a bloody expensive one to get this kind of sound quality!