Published: February, 2005

Guitarist Richard Leo Johnson is primarily self-taught. However, there wouldn't be a hint of that here on this superlative effort. Along with keyboardist Andrew Ripley and electric/acoustic violinist Ricardo Ochoa, the guitarist fuses a starkly organic foundation with ringing electronic overtones. Johnson's unique tuning practices on his various acoustic guitars offer a point of interest, besides his starkly recognizable technical faculties. With this release, Johnson and his trio intermingles lush melodies with sprightly choruses. Yet there's a prevailing sense of movement and excitement that envelops this gorgeously recorded production. The band soars into the red zone on occasion. And it's partly rooted within an underlying sense of structure, augmented by the artists' bustling dialogues. Dynamics abound, even within pieces that are built upon quaint melodies. Count this among the top ten productions for 2004, regardless of any rigidly defined musical classifications.