I've always thought Leo Kottke was due for hipster recognition as much as John Fahey. Of course, Fahey was a depressive who created a minimalist, purely instrumental style primarily derived from blues, whereas Leo is a showman who's always worked in sort of a flashy country genre, and even sang on occasion. So the comparison (they're both primarily steel-string guitarists known for their mastery of the instrument), is foolish and I hereby retract it and apologize. Anyhow, Mr. Kottke's albums are not always perfect, but they're almost always amazing from a guitarist's point of view (I like his singing voice too, but not everyone does). And the moodier compositions and dry sense of humor ought to appeal to folks who would otherwise tend to dismiss anything this country-oriented.
This (I think) was his first album, and as such is a perfectly realized statement of purpose: jaw-dropping virtuosity, dreamy compositions, and fingers like iron, on the 12-string guitar (a very difficult instrument to master), and on its six-string sister.
