Doom & Gloom From the Tomb

MARK FOSSON - Digging In The Dust: Home Recordings 1976

Drag City put out Fosson’s long lost Takoma debut a few years back, and this new set from Tompkins Square contains a lot of the same compositions. But don’t let that stop you from checking out Digging In The Dust, for heaven’s sake. These home recordings are absolutely gorgeous — a stunning showcase for Fosson’s shimmering 12-string reveries. Though they were made with just a rented mic and a tape recorder, the playing here positively glows. 

It’s said that when John Fahey received Fosson’s demo in the mid-70s he scrawled on it: “Best since Kottke.” Leo is certainly an apt reference, at least if we’re talking about his early stuff. But Fosson has his own thing happening, an expansiveness and a keen ear for melodies that leans a bit more towards Basho than Kottke. The accepted term for the Fahey school is “American Primitive,” but primitive isn’t a word that comes to mind when listening to these tracks. Technically brilliant without being overly flashy, the intricacy of Fosson’s compositions is complemented by his willingness to slip in a few psychedelic, free-form sections. Highly recommended! 

Download “Gorilla Mountain”