For the uninitiated, Sir Richard Bishop is not in fact a rich English entrepreneur, but a relatively unknown American guitarist. The former member of Sun City Girls and co founder of the Sublime Frequencies label has developed a prolific solo career over the last few years. His playing marries a number of varying styles including Indian, North African and Spanish. This is fused together beautifully to create the sort of music that the likes of John Peel would no doubt have raved about. His latest offering Polytheistic Fragments perfectly illustrates such eclectic tastes, a bit like a whistle stop tour through random genres.

Opener “Cross My Palm With Silver” has a distinct Spanish vibe, full of Flamenco guitars. In contrast, the bluesy second track “Hecates Dream” could not be more different. It sounds a bit like listening to the ghost of Son House on a dark winter’s night. This is followed by the acoustic foot tapper “Elysium Number Five” and the Indian tinged “Rub’ Al Khali”. Then we’re swiftly back in blues territory once more with “Free Masonic Guitar”, where a pretty acoustic melody tries in vain to find its way out of a dark foreboding background.

In all honesty, at times this album does seem rather self indulgent. Although atmospheric, tracks such as “Cemetery Gates” (unfortunately not a cover of the Mozzer/Marr composition), “Saraswati” and “Ecstasies In The Open Air” meander along with no discernible tune. There are however a number of delights to be found on the second half of the record. The lovely “Quiescent Return” is wonderfully melancholy, sounding a little like a Spanish “Stairway To Heaven”. Hillbilly numbers “Tennessee Porch Swing” and “Canned Goods And Firearms” are undoubted highlights, the latter featuring fine lead guitar work over what sounds like Johnny Cash’s backing band.

All in all this record would be ideal to play at a dinner party. Firstly, it’s great chilled out background music and secondly it would provide a good talking point. Quite frankly, who’s ever really heard of Sir Richard Bishop? But to merely dismiss it as that is doing it a disservice as at times there really is some exceptional playing here. Imagine if Nick Drake had had a few lessons from Django Reinhardt and Ravi Shankar then you get the idea. If you don’t have such a vivid imagination, you’ll just have to buy it and see for yourself.
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Links
Sir Richard Bishop [official site] [myspace] [buy it]