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Richard Youngs is one of the most enigmatic and singular of artists.  Earlier this year he played on a bill which included the Finnish freak-folk chanteuse Islaja and American minimal violinist Tony Conrad.  Like sometime collaborator Jandek, Youngs plays live so rarely – I don’t think he had been on stage in many years – but here had the courage to sing unaccompanied in a church, and to do so with a passion that riveted all present to their pews.  Such vision has led him to record some startling avant-electronic albums, such as The Naïve Shaman and River Through Howling Sky, and has now led him to record the most enigmatic and singular of folk-guitar albums.  Read the rest of this entry »