The Five Heavenly Truths

Slide guitars and bluesy riffing share space with knotty free-form rambles on this fascinating double-album from guitarist Henry Kaiser. The weeping and wailing of "Dog is My Co-Pilot" may be a bit boilerplate, but check out the skronk and sputter of "The March" or Neubauten-esque clamor and crackle of "Kohayakawakee No Aki". "Blue Moose" is built around a tense, repeated strum and "The Shunk's Tears" is all down-home longing. The more conventional tracks may be industry standard, but Kaiser's experimental forays are worth a listen.