2014 – Lost Grove Arts
By Phillip Smith;
Dec 27, 2014
I absolutely love it when I
hear an album for the first time, and the music totally captivates me. That’s what happened upon my first listen of Toulouse Engelhardt’s fabulously
composed instrumental album, Mind Gardens. This thirteen track masterpiece is a trove of
acoustic guitar forged treasures.
Engelhardt
lulls the listener in with “Nierika”.
Softly played, this song brings forth a general mood of peace and
tranquility. Following right behind, is “Theme
to the First Annual Bluebelly Lizard Roundup”.
This flawless performance opens up with amazing, fast licks, and came to
be one of my favorite tracks. Another
favored selection is Engelhardt’s twelve
string performance of Francis Poulanc’s
“Sarabande”. This song hits me with an instant
familiarity and puts a big smile on my face.
As Henry David Thoreau wrote about Walden Pond, Engelhardt expresses his affinity for nature through a piece called
“Huckleberry Meadows Forever”. Inspired by Huckleberry Meadows in the
Sierra Nevada, this song, beautifully played on a twelve string guitar, emits a
wave of calmness.
One of the biggest treats on Mind Gardens is a mind blowing cover of “the Wedge”, originally
recorded by the King of Surf, Dick Dale.
This is a perfect song for Engelhardt to showcase his incredible
guitar playing skills. Showing his guitar
no mercy, Engelhardt keeps true to the original spirit of the song, brandishing
a fast and furious performance.
To hear an expert guitarist, such as Engelhardt,
play is pure joy. Mind Gardens is not just an album, it’s an aural experience.
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