The Takoma record label came to prominence in the late '60s, bringing idiosyncratic folk artists to the attention of young rock fans and earning a reputation for high-quality homespun acoustic music. While John Fahey, Takoma's founder, and Leo Kottke earned well-deserved followings and critical plaudits, Robbie Basho, an influence on both of these players, remained a virtual unknown despite making some masterful recordings in his distinctive acoustic style. The 1996 release of GUITAR SOLI, a collection of Basho's best work from his long-out-of-print records, is a well-chosen, extremely long-awaited introduction to this under-appreciated artist. Basho's gritty fingerpicked style of steel-stringed guitar playing contains marked Eastern influences, as well as Cajun and Celtic elements. The result is a style that is utterly individual. From the ghostly whistling on "Oriental Love" to the burnished beauty of "Sansara in Sweetness After Sandstorm (The Seal of the Blue Lotus)," Basho's compositions are imbued with a rough-hewn, gemlike perfection. This will be a welcome addition to the collection of anyone who appreciates the sound of six steel strings.