Asleep On the Floodplain

Six Organs of Admittance, a.k.a. Ben Chasny, turns to the illuminating beauty of acoustic swordplay on this delicate collection of acoustic folk-based material. One hears touches of deep country, folk and blues alongside modal and Middle-Eastern drones. The album was recorded at Chasny’s homes in Seattle and San Francisco between 2007 and 2010. Yet, the sound is so much grander. Chasny adds chant-like backing vocals to “Hold But Let Go,” a tune that is nearly pop music in this context. “River of My Youth” is a streaming, ambient haze. “Poppies” falls to the John Fahey-Leo Kottke-Bert Jansch side of deft finger-work. “S/Word and Leviathan,” inspired by theologian Catherine Keller, takes 12 minutes of intricate, repetitive guitar patterns to reach its holy place. Chasny plays everything: acoustic guitars, wonky synths, harmoniums. It’s a virtuoso performance that never cheats the heart. “Brilliant Blue Sea Between Us,” “Light of the Light,” “Dawn, Running Home” are affecting tunes rich with mood and texture that is never cold or distancing, but warmly inviting.