An experiment gone wrong?

This album seems to mess with the tried and true Kottke formula. It is mellower, more New Age than, say, 6 & 12 String Guitar. On several songs you also hear Kottke using a synthesizer to make other instrumental sounds. If you happen to like that, great. If you're buying this because you liked 6 & 12 String Guitar, you might be disappointed.

The Ultimate Kottke---No Doubt About It

One day I returned to my college apartment from a weekend at my parents to discover that my roommate had video-taped this amazing guitar player off of the PBS show, "Austin City Limits". Ever since then I cannot get enough of this guy. Six years later, my collection of Leo Kottke CDs is almost complete. When I try to choose my favorite one, "A Shout Towards Noon" always pops in my head. Such a beautifully written album---such emotion and energy. For anyone that has not listened to a Kottke CD, do yourself a favor: buy two--one for you and one for anyone that has a passion for works of art.

The Virtuoso Is His Own Reward

My first encounter with Leo Kottke was at a performance, where a sudden burst of pyrotechnics drew my attention from my date to the guitarist on stage. I suddenly realized that all the finger-picking I had just heard was being done on a 12 string guitar, which is no mean feat. Worse, there seems to be moment whan Kottke was picking all 12 strings. I nearly died of envy.

If Kottke's roots are in folk, albums such as this demonstrates that his skills are far more wide ranging. Jazz, blues, folk and even new age are well within his span of control. He builds a strong, architected effect where every not is dead on, even when he is indulging in a bit of invention, and A Shout Toward Noon is no exception. This makes his playing as unique as other modern masters of the instrument like Ackermann and DeGrassi. And every bit as enjoyable as well.

This album encapsulates both his playing and compositional talents. On several tracks I was surprised to find the presence of other instruments (cello and synthesizer) that provide some unexpected dimensionality (try Little Martha). Even though this album is 15 years old, it contains surprises (like the things he does with string harmonics in Easter Again), and sounds surprisingly fresh. The engineering is beautifully balances, with a simple, guitar-focused sound that seems to fill the room.

If you are looking for an outstanding conceptual album that is representative of the best in folk instrumentalists, look into A Shout Toward Noon. You are bound to like it.