The New Possibility
40 min · 14 tracks · blues
A tranquil blend of traditional carols reimagined through intricate fingerstyle guitar and haunting melodies that evoke the holiday spirit.
Top tracks — play these first
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Joy to the World — This opening track sets the tone with a lively yet reflective arrangement that highlights Fahey's virtuosity while reinterpreting a well-known carol.
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God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Fantasy — This extended piece showcases Fahey's skill at weaving multiple melodic lines together, creating a complex tapestry that stands out amid the simpler tracks.
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Silent Night, Holy Night — Fahey’s delicate fingerpicking brings a meditative quality to this classic carol, transforming it into a poignant exploration of tranquility and reverence.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Fahey's unique fingerstyle approach reimagines holiday music, blending folk and blues traditions effectively.
What we noticed
- The album features intricate fingerstyle guitar arrangements that reinterpret traditional carols, creating a serene atmosphere.
- Each track maintains a consistent tempo, with variations in dynamics that highlight the emotional weight of the melodies.
- Several tracks incorporate modal shifts and unexpected chord progressions, adding depth to familiar holiday themes.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- contemplative holiday reflections
- intimate gatherings by the fire
- gentle fingerpicking for relaxation
- nostalgic warmth of tradition
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy experiences
- prefer modern production styles
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1968, The New Possibility was John Fahey's first foray into holiday music, coming after his influential albums such as Blind Joe Death and The Dance of Death. At this point in his career, Fahey had established himself as a pioneering figure in American primitive guitar music, which laid the groundwork for this unique interpretation of Christmas classics.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Leo Kottke· Bert Jansch· Nick Drake
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Joy to the World 1:52
- 2 What Child Is This? 3:02
- 3 Medley: Hark, the Herald Angels Sing / O Come All Ye Faithful 3:10
- 4 Auld Lang Syne 2:01
- 5 The Bells of St. Mary’s 2:10
- 6 Good King Wenceslas 1:10
- 7 We Three Kings of Orient Are 1:50
- 8 God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Fantasy 3:00
- 9 The First Noël 2:12
- 10 Christ’s Saints of God 10:12
- 11 It Came Upon a Midnight Clear 1:28
- 12 Go I Will Send Thee 3:00
- 13 Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming 3:45
- 14 Silent Night, Holy Night 1:14
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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