La Cooka Ratcha
Gordon Giltrap : Troubadour (UK,1997/2001)**°
Most artists, guitarist from the seventies 1. began to play electric after a while and after some time began to loose their acoustic / intimate foundation ; may be they even desperately searched further for a more commercial acceptable sound in times with other interests than acoustic music or 2. stayed in ease, somewhat on the background, kept / or tried to keep their skills alive, where their style even might have developed into a more advanced playing. From that last category Bert Jansch and John Renbourne are certainly stilll interesting to trace for also their most recent releases (- John Renbourn for instance, after John Renbourn's Group delivered the beautifully guitar album 'The Nine Maidens'****, and Bert Jansch made some nice solo albums the last few years too), but it seems that also Gordon Giltrap developed his technique. Some soft arrangements, done by Del Newman (Beatles), make the music at some tracks only seemingly somewhat richer, but at the same time these arrangements seems mostly putting an unnecessary veil over the music. Still it contained a very relaxed, mood with a nice and friendly atmosphere and warm character.
Hearing the acoustic version of the album (which is the second CD on this reissue) is surprising. The musicality now enfolds itself much more. It's refreshing to hear the clearly composed sound, without any adds. Here the title 'troubadour' fits best, for the guitar style is more often very troubadour like. So it was a very good idea to add this version here. It'll be my preference. Compairng both versions it's even more clear how the soft approach in the arrangements did not make the music richer at all, but made every idea in it more vague. Giltrap's ideas are already not so very clear, and his approach has its certain softness. Therefore the new core version is very welcome and might be even closer to the essence.
Gordon Giltrap did not always make guitar albums. His album "Visionary" for instance, (based upon the works of W.Blake), - possibly a good starter-, was very much arranged with his band.
