Website © 2003 by Tyler Carey
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Stephen Basho-Junghans
Rivers and Bridges
Strange Attractors Audio House, 2004
by Dr. Christian Carey Something about the confluence of the hectic holidays and the frenetic end of the semester seems to make meditative music a tough sell in December. I know that the self-help gurus probably think that we all need to do less shopping or running around and more sitting contemplatively next to scented candles; but for most of us, it's fairly unlikely that we'll be relaxed enough for that. Fortunately, Stephen Basho-Junghans' latest CD, Rivers and Bridges, found its way into my stereo over the holidays, and its poignant combination of experiment and reverie has managed to simultaneously lower my blood pressure and perk up my ears.
Typical solo acoustic guitar albums are a dangerous enough endeavor - how to keep a postmodern audience's attention when armed only with a six or twelve-string? More daring still is Basho-Junghans' approach on Rivers and Bridges, crafting extended, often drone-based compositions. On "The River Suite" and "The Takoma Bridge Incident," thematic development and chord progressions are elusive. The guitarist instead prefers to craft swirling, slowly evolving passages, transforming melodies and mutating the harmonic identity of the pieces in a gradual and subtle manner. That said, these subtle changes each seem intentioned, each make an impact, and accumulate to create an enchanting music that demands your attention. Whether or not Basho-Junghans wants to make his listener slow down and take stock, this is Rivers and Bridges' most likely, and likeable, effect on those who hear it.
-January 26, 2005