Phil Keaggy

Item: Lights of Madrid
Author: Doug Van Pelt

Lights of Madrid

(2000)

Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt

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Label Word Artisan / Word RecordsHM Magazine #89May 2001

acoustic classical world

You want to start a new label that conjures the respect and attitude of an artisan - a true musical servant? Then who better to release (not just one, but two) lead-off albums than Mister Phil Keaggy? This guitarist has built a reputation with his own fingers - a reputation that speaks of excellence in song crafting, performance, and (thankfully) without the common byproducts of arrogance and showboating. Truly a musician worth emulating. Inseparable is the first complete singer/songwriter package from Phil in a while. His songs mostly capitalize on his tender asexual vocals and clean playing. There's moments, like "Litany To The Spirit," where he pulls out all the stops and adds a myriad of instrumental sounds to the mix. Imagine Enya collaborating with Page/Plant! This is beautiful stuff. Phil openly wears his Beatles respect in the Lennon-esque title track, and goes so far as to cover the McCartney penned "Motor Of Love." While The Beatles had to present the sugar of "I Want To Hold Your Hand" before they could make the public swallow Sgt. Pepper, Phil mixes both the kind of simple melodies that his vocal catalog is known for (the revisited "Headlines," "Blessed Are," and "Still Waters") and these masterful strokes of musical genius. I'm awed by his sense of atmosphere and wispy vocal sounds; and reminded of the vocal production flavor of Steve Hindalong and Derri Daugherty in songs like "Chalice." All this is done with a lyrical boldness and unpretentiousness that is captivating and overtly scriptural. Without so much as a stroke of feedback, this guitar hero has delivered a great package with Inseparable. Lights Of Madrid, which has already received a Dove Nomination, is an instrumental album that includes guitar tablature on the (enhanced) disc. It is a flamenco guitar extravaganza, and not quite as dynamic as its vocalized cousin, Inseparable, but energized nonetheless. It stands up to its genre, but evokes nodding heads, as opposed to dropped jaws. If you want to fill up your abode with authentic Spanish guitar, then look no further. For the amazing stratospheric realm, try Inseparable.