Ben Chasny has spent many years at this point perfecting his very personal vision of the American landscape. With his early LPs he managed to grab a groundswell of support for his distinctly lo-fi recordings, and since hitting the Drag City label with the breathtaking 'School of Flower' he has managed to extend his vision to countless others. 'Asleep on the Floodplain' continues his exploration, and while it doesn't change up the formula too much (apart from the odd analogue synth blurt here and there) it is yet more proof why Chasny is one of the most respected guitarists operating right now. There's a reason why he is now a regular member of esteemed collective Current 93 - his deeply personal and near-spiritual vision offers links to folk music's past without coming across as simply aping the classic guitarists. Sure there are hints at the modal work of John Fahey, but the longer Chasny operates, the more obvious it becomes that he is a guitarist who is being plagiarised himself. If you haven't come across Six Organs of Admittance before, 'Asleep on the Floodplain' might just be the kind of introduction you need to the catalogue of an enduring original in the archiecture of American music. Buy this, and then explore Chasny's rich and rewarding back catalogue! (Boomkat)