1. private 
The Curable Interns : the music of The curable Interns
arranged for solo guitar... (US,1986,2004)***°'
This album shows an incredible variety of ideas with guitar, from ethnical inspirations over old blues, avant-garde with prepared guitar, going from one idea to the next in a convincing, inspired way. It’s like a journey over the earth with acoustic and amplified and slide-guitar including unknown and not existing places. Brilliant as a visionary compilation of worlds.
2. private The Curable Interns guitarist Kenneth Johnston :
Instrumental music from the Horsehead Point Community
-music from the invisible world of the American South- (US,2003)***°'
The concept of this album is an interpretation of old folkmusic of a fictive, perhaps partly astral or mystic or seen-in-the-future future ethno-community. Also the music is partly strange, odd, but on the other hand partly traditional. At its weirdest there are slight avant-garde harmonies of recognisable sources of melodies, shapes and improvisation techniques, like a Residents vision on ethno-folk and blues. Just once we had a more experimental-melodic electronic track. Elsewhere we have a few Captain Beefheart-like interpretations of what might originate from blues. Other inspirations are more “earthly” and vary from old time blues to folk, Appalachian and Middle Eastern. Interesting, convincing, and inspired.
private The Curable Interns play... Zenobia Marsh sings... (US,2005)***°
This album has thematical fantasy and more emotional songs in a singing style between Current 93 and David Thomas and with a more feminine energy, sometimes singer-songwriter styled, with interesting and fine electric and acoustic guitars, and with an art-rock feel and at least some acid-folk touch, so mostly with acoustic fundamentals. There’s also some bluesy touches just here and there which fit with the particular songs' inspirations. Just now and then this is Beefheartian.
3. privateKenneth Johnston : Texas Travel Guide (US,2005)***°
This is a collection of an unfinished solo guitar project under the working title of “The Texas Travel Guide”. The first two tracks are more complicated serious guitar compositions called “Vanderpool” and “Marathon”. Most other tracks have foundations in serious blues or ‘old blues’. “Fort Stockton” is in ragtime ? blues style if I’m not mistaken.
“Wilderness ridge” is a longer, somewhat experimental styled improvisation with amplified guitar. The last track, “Hair Pie bake 2” is an interpretation of a Captain Beefheart track arranged for solo guitar. I like especially the blues and classically arranged compositions, with “Marathon” as a highlight”.
4. private The Curable Interns : The View From Ring Hog Hill (US,2004) ?
review could be added later
5. private Rooster Kiev : Music for Planetarium Operators (US,1987,iss.2005)****
This album, recorded live at an art gallery in 1987. It consists of 14 fingerpicking pieces for acoustic guitar and one additional longer composition for electric guitar. The inspiration for most of the music on this cd came from places of scenic, historic, or geological interest in the state of Texas, but evolved to something wider, which became a more thoroughly inspired and personalized vision. Different tunes (ragtime,..) gives the impression of a development of a personal vision, in a similar way as in experience and time the Appalachian areas developped older styles to something of their own. There is a portion of attention to the richness of tones and uppertones in melodies. While the acoustic pieces are melodic, the last, electric piece is more minimal in its evolution and in an ambient way experimental. For me, especially the first 14 pieces give an enriched vision on a variety of styles. One could experience this collection for moody listening with or without technical interest. A fine album.
