Thing at the Nursery Room Window
Although Peter Lang never achieved the public recognition of Takoma Records labelmatesLeo KottkeandJohn Fahey, his fingerstyle guitar playing has long been an inspiration to other guitarists. OnThe Thing at the Nursery Room Window, Lang's 1973 solo debut, some of his original compositions such as "Turnpike Terror" and "Bituminous Nightmare" show a bit of the Fahey influence, particularly in the use of dissonance and unusual chord progressions. But overall his playing has an elegant simplicity that is wholly his own. Although Lang is a master at composing short pieces--five of the selections clock in at less than two minutes--the most successful track is the nine-minute "Future Shot at the Rainbow." On this track Lang runs through a set of variations on a theme that skillfully blends elements of ragtime and classical music with folk and blues.The Thing at the Nursery Room Window, which includes three bonus tracks not on the original LP, is a long overdue reissue from an unjustly neglected guitarist.--Michael Simmons