james blackshaw: love is the plan, the plan is death

Important is proud to welcome back James Blackshaw for his first full length since on Important since his breakthrough album O True Believers was released on the label in 2006. James has since forged a remarkable career achieving critical praise for his dexterity, his deep, connected songwriting and his beautiful arrangement. Written at a time of great emotional disquiet, the hauntingly beautiful and bittersweet ninth full-length studio album, Love Is The Plan, The Plan Is Death', from British guitarist-composer James Blackshaw was recorded at Soma Electronic Music Studios, Chicago in December 2011 by engineer Andrew Hernandez (Balmorhea). The six original pieces contained on the album (whose titles are lovingly misappropriated from those of short stories by the late, great science fiction author James Tiptree Jr AKA Alice B. Sheldon,) are based alternately around nylon-string classical guitar and grand piano, with spare and subtle vibraphone and B3 organ parts overdubbed by Blackshaw himself. Genevieve Beaulieu (Menace Ruine/Preterite) adds her stunning and powerful voice and words to track 'And I Have Come Upon This Place By Lost Ways.' Love Is The Plan is an incredibly warm and intimate recording and perhaps Blackshaw's most concise, consistent and overtly melodic to date