Genre: Avant-folk / Contemporary Classical

01 Chieko Mori - Spiral Wave
02 James Blackshaw - The Broken Hourglass
03 Helena Espvall - Home Of Shadows And Whirlwinds
04 Jozef Van Wissen - The Mirror Of Eternal Light
05 Chieko Mori - Tokyo Light

The Garden Of Forking Paths is a compilation CD with just five tracks, yet it lasts longer than 45 minutes. The title comes from the 1941 short story by Argentinan writer Jorge Luis Borges. This compilation is initiatied by James Blackshaw, and consists solely of solo compositions for string instruments. All tracks are completely instrumental.

Chieko Mori starts and finishes the compilation with compositions for the Japanese Koto, an instrument derived from the Chinese Guzheng. Chieko has learned to play this instrument since she was just three years old. The way she plays this instrument in Spiral Wave makes one believe there are actually two people playing at the same time, since she plays two different melodies in different keys at the very same time, not missing one single stroke. Tokyo Night is much calmer, and has more eastern feel to it as well. A very nice track to end the compilation with. Chieko released her debut album, Jumping Rabbit, on John Zorn's prolific Tzadik Records label in 2005, and this album ranks as one of James Blackshaw's all-time favorites.

Another female on this compilation is cello player Helena Espvall, who's also a member of the psychfolk ensemble Espers. She also has a music project called Anahita, together with Tara Burke of Fursaxa fame, which has one album out on Deserted Village, called Arcana En Cantos. Her track, Home Of Shadows And Whirlwinds, is 10 minutes of cello music. Sometimes beautifully dark, sometimes heartbreakingly screeching.

Jozef Van Wissem is a Dutch rennaissance lute player, delivering the longest track, with just over fourteen minutes. I found this track also the most enjoyable one, as there is less an improvised touch to the sound. Instead, the sound is incredibly clean and clear. Beautiful music, and I applaud Jozef for making the lute a more wellknown instrument again. The Mirror Of Eternal Lights is a slow paced song for the first five minutes, but then it picks up on speed, showing off Jozef's marvelous ability to play this forgotten instrument. Then, six minutes before the end, the track is going slow paced again. Very calming.

Lastly, James Blackshaw's very own song. This young man has a remarkable talent playing the 12-string guitar, and incorporating drones and overtones. The Broken Hourglass is a ten minute feast to the ears, and one of the more melodic tracks on this comilation. At times it's just very soothing and relaxing, at other times, while not being totally different, just very intense. It's amazing how much one can accomplish with music, really.

The album as a whole can be a very nice introduction to the ones that are interested in discovering music in the fields of contemporary compositions for stringed instruments. The four musicians on here all have their very own style, and chances are high there's something you will find enjoyable. Personally, I'm not too fond of the more experimental side of music, but this album did introduce me to some names I want to explore further.