Browse by Artist: BISHOP, SIR RICHARD

Artist:	BISHOP, SIR RICHARD
Title:	Polytheistic Fragments
Label:	DRAG CITY
Format:	CD
Price:	$13.50
Catalog #:	DC 349CD

"It goes without saying that Polytheistic Fragments is an instrumental release -- who among us would want it otherwise? In the tradition of his classic debut, Salvador Kali, this new record features equal amounts of improvisation and composition. Sir Richard's powers lie in his ability to captivate with just the sound of his guitar, but he doesn't completely abandon studio processes, which allow Polytheistic Fragments to communicate a greater wholeness: all Sir Rick, all the time, if you will. We have come to expect a few solo acoustic guitar pieces with the gypsy stylings of his hero, Django Reinhardt -- and as if to tenderize our consciousness and prepare it for the ride, 'Cross My Palm with Silver' meets and exceeds our expectations. 'Rub 'Al Khali' is an ode to the oud, a northern African lute of sorts. On 'Free Masonic Guitar,' Sir Richard manifests free form acoustic playing wholly in his own style. Peppering the mix are the sounds of electric guitar and lap steel guitar, bringing contrast and color. 'Hecate's Dream' is a dreamy praise to a dark Greek Goddess, but 'Tennessee Porch Swing' and 'Canned Goods and Firearms' switch gears to good old down home Americana and country twang. Sir Richard is renowned for his prowess and mastery with the guitar, but the piano playing on Polytheistic Fragments shows a fluid, meditative style. 'Saraswati' is a lengthy river piece bathed in Hindustani serenity, while 'Cemetery Games' is a short celebratory skeletal dance, with more light-heartedness than spook. In a record with so many spirits, Bishop fills in the space where necessary and rounds out the feeling with catchy tunes such as 'Elysium Number Five' and 'Ecstasies in the Open Air.' Polytheistic Fragments shows that the divinely inspired Sir Richard Bishop cannot be contained in one form."

Artist:	BISHOP, SIR RICHARD
Title:	Improvika
Label:	LOCUST
Format:	CD
Price:	$14.00
Catalog #:	LOCUST 061CD

"By trade Sir Richard Bishop is a dealer of rare occult books and fine paper ephemera. For many in the musical cosmos, he has occasion to travel the smoke filled carnie circuit as 1/3 of the Sun City Girls medicine show. But in the twilight hours of a shadow world sensed only by few, Bishop is a dazzling unaccompanied guitarist. On Improvika, Bishop rides a very tall horse through a surrealist's cowboy set that's 1 part bruit Peckinpah muscularity & 2 parts illuminated Jodorowskian symbolism. A very strange place, indeed. Armed only with a single steel string wooden guitar, bare-knuckled Bishop fends off the horrors & dangers of the night with ease as he spits out glorious white robed arabesques, django inspired gypsy arcs, & latin terracotta flourishes like so many spinning tumbleweeds in a one horse town that is his alone. Improvika is Sir Richard's follow up to his part on Locust's celebrated Wooden Guitar collection and second full length release after his debut on John Fahey's Revenant label."

Artist:	BISHOP, SIR RICHARD
Title:	While My Guitar Violently Bleeds
Label:	LOCUST
Format:	CD
Price:	$14.00
Catalog #:	LOCUST 090CD

"This is an essential document by one of America's most original and inventive unaccompanied guitarists working today. While My Guitar Violently Bleeds is a splendid three piece gem in which the good sir branches out & nods to points West, East & otherworldly with the classic spaghetti western-tinged, spidery fretwork of 'Zurvan,' to the Fushitsusha style psych decay & feedback drench of 'Smashana' to the brilliant 25+ minute raga epic 'Mahavidya.'"

Artist:	BISHOP, SIR RICHARD
Title:	God Damn Religion
Label:	LOCUST
Format:	DVD/CD
Price:	$19.00
Catalog #:	LOCUST 107DVD

"Official DVD release of Sir Richard Bishop's cracked movie God Damn Religion. First edition comes with a bonus audio CD of the quasi soundtrack Elektronika Demonika, originally issued by Locust as a vinyl-only escapade in 2006. 'For centuries, man has used organized religion to control the hearts and minds (not to mention the pocketbooks) of the ignorant masses. Well, Richard Bishop has decided he would like a piece of the action. This film is a diabolical experiment in hypnotic mind control -- a phantasmagoric presentation of demonic and divine imagery, meticulously assembled and designed to put the viewer into an altered state of darkened awareness. Includes original music from Elektronika Demonika, as well as unreleased material. If you ever wanted to go to hell and back, this film will get you halfway there. Some viewers may find the imagery used in this film to be disturbing, but that's the idea. Contains some strong sexual content (as all true religion should). Not for the weak-minded, faint of heart, or those suffering from occasional seizures.'" DVD is NTSC format, probably region free. 9

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