77/100
In his 7 years of recording, James Blackshaw has established himself in the upper levels of the Takoma-influenced folk revival of the last decade. Along with the late Jack Rose, Blackshaw continued the traditions of the 1960s work of artists such as Robbie Basho and John Fahey. While previous albums mostly found him playing the acoustic 12 string, All Is Falling (his 2nd album for Michael Gira’s Young God record label) finds Blackshaw moving on from instrumentalist to composer.
All Is Falling marks Blackshaw’s first time recording with electric guitar, in this case, a 12-string electric. The album is meant as one continuous piece of music, labeled simply, and Parts 1 through 8. Part 1 opens the album with Blackshaw at the piano for a few minutes until the opening guitar of Part 2. The album maintains a pretty even pace for its first few sections, blending together from track to track, with the guitar holding things down. Strings move in and out and even overshadow the guitar work from time to time. Blackshaw’s guitar is clean throughout, maintaining an even tone with no effects. Things start to change with Part 6, where violinist Fran Bury’s voice counts out the beats, with Blackshaw adding his own and some percussion. Things finally reach a climax in Part 7, with Blackshaw’s guitar finally giving way to some intense noise from the strings. Part 8 seems like a tacked-on coda, a buzz of feedback and noise for 8 minutes to draw things to a close, feeling almost unnecessary as an ending following the intensity of Part 7.
All Is Falling is Blackshaw’s first solid entry as more of a post-rock composer than just an instrumentalist. While many of his post-rock contemporaries rely on constantly shifting dynamics, Blackshaw lets things work out slowly, eventually giving way to but never really giving in to the obvious. A very good entry into different territory, All Is Falling is hopefully a step into new territory.
-Adam
James Blackshaw
Purchase from Young God Records
HTC launches 5 smartphones, tablet.
TradeArabia (Manama, Bahrain) March 31, 2011 Taiwan-based HTC Corporation, a global mobile phone manufacturer, recently launched five new smartphones and its first tablet.
The launch featured the industry’s first phones built entirely around social networking, three new versions of HTC’s most popular and advanced smartphones, as well as the tablet, the HTC Flyer.
HTC estimates that more of the region’s youth becoming active on social networking platforms and more companies targeting the youth through this means, due to its great viral effect.
“Clearly, smartphones have transformed our lives but these new models will take the phenomenon one step further, bringing you a different, more personal and dynamic mobile experience,” said Florian Seiche, president of HTC EMEA. here htc incredible s
“We are progressing down a path as an industry when people will no longer be in a single device paradigm, but will use a variety of wireless devices ideal for all their different needs and HTC will be supplying the best options available for all.” “Bringing intelligence and innovation to the industry, we are narrowing the gap between the segment and functional sophistication of the smartphone category. Our HTC ChaCha and HTC Salsa models will feature a dedicated Facebook button for one touch access to key functions on the world’s leading social network. Such converged functionalities are poised to revolutionize and set a unique precedent for future dynamic smartphone features,” he added. website htc incredible s
HTC also developed the HTC Sense experience to offer the new HTC Desire S, HTC Wildfire S and HTC Incredible S.
“Our ever growing presence in the region marks a new era of superior premium mobile innovations and applications that is certain to take the region by storm. HTC’s new and enhanced extensive product portfolio has something for everyone targeting all segments of the market with unique individualized features and settings,” said Mohamed Kais Zribi, regional manager, HTC Mena.
“According to the population reference bureau, one third of the population currently consist of youth and this trend will continue into 2025 giving HTC an ideal market for their trendy cutting-edge products,” he added.
The new tablet HTC Flyer blends HTC’s trademark design language with an all-new HTC Sense user experience, a statement said.
Using an intuitive and innovative approach to tablets, HTC Flyer combines natural touch and pen interaction, it added.
The new models will be available to the public in the second quarter of the year, according to the statement. — TradeArabia News Service Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company
Writer / photographer / Reviler co-founder
