Celestial Explosion

Released on the miniscule Keyboard imprint in 1968, Don Bikoff’s lone solo LP, Celestial Explosion, is an arresting fusion of country blues–derived fingerpicking techniques and melodic ideas reminiscent of those explored by virtuosos of the shamisen or the sitar. This fascinating set is enhanced by subtle but effective production flourishes that lend a spooky, near-psychedelic ambiance to Bikoff’s already-excellent compositions. It'll be hard for many to hear the forbidding open-tuned drone of “Earth (Revisited)” or the cascading fingerpicking of “Rindler’s Metamorphosis” without thinking of the trailblazing compositions of John Fahey—originator of the Takoma school of guitar playing, of which Bikoff is most certainly a member. That being said, Celestial Explosion is far from a derivative work. While Bikoff’s style is clearly indebted to innovations by Fahey (and, to a lesser extent, Robbie Basho), this album proves that Bikoff is an impressive instrumental stylist whose playing deserves to be considered alongside that of his better-known contemporaries.