V/A – Imaginational Anthem Volume 2 / 2006 Tompkins Square / 12 Tracks / http://www.tompkinssquare.com / Reviewed 07 June 2006

The first Imaginational Anthem album was a great work in showcasing the work of individuals that may have been passed by in the last forty years. The desire to come up with the unknown classics of intricate guitar work is still present in this second volume of the collection, and the disc itself starts with someone that was tremendously influenced by the rest of artists that are on this disc: James Blackshaw. Blackshaw’s work does not need any vocals to tell the story, as the extremely detailed composition (“River of Heaven”) is enough to send listeners into ecstasy.

For those listeners that absolutely need to get something new on the disc, Tompkins Square has dug something from way back in the vaults. Robbie Basho’s “Kowaka D’Amour” is the only live performance to date that has been unearthed; individuals that have the rest of the materials on vinyl are not going to have this anywhere else. The tracks take on a variety of different styles. While there are obviously guitar tracks tied to rock at points, it is not uncommon to hear a track on Imaginational Anthem that takes on blues music (such as Peter Lang’s “Future Shot at the Rainbow”). The fact that a disc can be so chock-full of solid music and not incorporate anything in the way of vocals should be a clarion call to those individuals that want to break free of the tyranny of vocal music.

The individuals on Imaginational Anthem find themselves holding up the classical style of music. The music takes place over a forty year period and to be honest, little in the way marks the difference in the quality or style of these tracks. While songs may push on different styles of music (blues, jazz, or folk music all find homes on this disc), they all enjoy the camaraderie that is present with talented and classic (or new-classic) music. Even when there are things that would normally be taken as weaknesses on normal tracks (hearing the individual’s fingers slide up and down the guitar, as is the case during Jesse Sparhawk’s “Light Cycle/Tetrahedra”), the artists make that a part of the track, something that is absolutely necessary to the track. This volume of Imaginational Anthem is just another step along the way to collecting music that would normally only be gathering dust, and preserving and showcasing it to future generations of guitarists.

Top Tracks: Jess Sparhawk “Light Cycle/Tetrahedra” , Peter Lang “Future Shot at the Rainbow”

Rating: 6.6/10

[JMcQ]