In the years of this new century (AY2K) guitarist Tashi Dorji has stood out in the field of improvised music with an incisive way of playing in and out of moments, tremendous conviction alongside the mercurial touch needed to ride the changing wind. Tashi's debut for Drag City is the work of a seasoned player, delving fearlessly forward and finding new places in the present moment with every stroke and pick. Stateless is about more than just playing your way into somewhere. This is music from the hand of an immigrant, living in a country that's presently shutting the door on people like him. Titling the album Stateless, Tashi presents the listener with the hair-raising recognition: these are free pieces in more ways than one. And when do we want our freedom? The second single from the album, "Now, Part I" is just part of the answer. 
 

Extrapolating in the realms of players like Derek Bailey and Bill Orcutt,  "Now, Part I" is an acoustic guitar etching of the exploding energy rising up and colliding everywhere we look today. Studio recording burnishes the wide dynamic range and the breadth and detail of Tashi's acoustic guitar technique. Drawn from the album's penultimate moment, "Now, Part I" conveys great empathy as it weds chaos and introspection in their many guises, to communicate to all listeners these sounds going down.

Listen to Tashi Dorji's new single "Now, Part I" on the DSP of your choice and remember: Stateless arrives September 25th.