Chuck Johnson – Velvet Arc LP

Velvet Arc finds Johnson fading into view with opening track As I Stand Counting, its desert-dusted guitar raga appearing like a mirage as the rhythm section rises in the mix. Similarly, Everything at Onces picks & strums hang in the air buoyed by the steady swells of crashing cymbals & bass. Side A closer Anamet may sound familar to fans – the tune is a re-working of Private Violence from Blood Moon Boulder, with added cello, a long synth outro, and a more psychedelic mix overall. Johnsons tenacity & constant evolution as a musician is representative in this track alone; he is an artist constantly in flux, refining & reworking like any good craftsman. Side B features more of Johnsons lauded fingerpicking style on tracks like Velvet Arc, Roadside Auspice & The Pace, while album closer Middle Water hums along contentedly with violin by Marielle Jakobsons.