No Wave veteran M.S. Dagley dismantles American Primitive guitar.

Mystery of the Guitar stands as a resolute, uncompromising entry in the discography of guitarist and visual artist M.S. (Mark) Dagley. The album functions as both a deft subversion and a bold statement of artistic autonomy, positioning Dagley far outside the cozy, oversaturated confines of modern 'American Primitive' solo guitar. Where contemporary acoustic fingerpickers often fall into comfortable John Fahey tropes, relying on recycled open-tuning modal drones, syncopated nostalgic blues idioms, and clichés, Dagley approaches the six-string with an insider's mastery and an outsider's discipline. Instead of mimicking Takoma School iconography, Mystery of the Guitar dismantles acoustic guitar performance through a highly rigorous, idiosyncratic framework, retooling material ranging from country blues musician Little Hat Jones to Renaissance lutenist John Dowland. Dagley's artistic lineage informs every measure of the release: having studied classical guitar in his youth before cutting his teeth performing alongside Washington, D.C. street singer Flora Molton and co-founding art-punk and No Wave groups The Girls and Hi Sheriffs of Blue, his playing is tempered by decades of radical experimentation. Mystery of the Guitar serves as a stark, vital alternative for listener-collectors exhausted by Fahey copyists, presenting an artist thoroughly grounded in classical technique, punk-blues grit, and downtown avant-garde bona fides.

Track Listing

• Mystery Of The Guitar
• Folia
• When I Lay My Burden Down
• Pretty Flower Of The Valley
• I Remember Backwards Sam Firk
• Banjo Blues & Raga
• Dance Of The Broken Thumb
• By The C&O Canal
• New Pig Meat Strut ( Hey Baby Hey)
• Flows My Tears

Additional Details

Label: Abaton Book Company

Genre: Folk

Language: English

Run Time: 40 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 11/06/26

UPC: 675130545723