by Richard S. Ginell

Always exploring side routes even at this early stage, Pat Metheny goes it all alone here, overdubbing himself on electric six- and 12-string guitars, acoustic guitar, electric bass, and 15-string harp guitar. Yet New Chautauqua is basically an indulgence, one where Metheny spins his wheels within the context of the impressionistic ECM ambience, creating pretty sounds but only fleeting streaks of memorable music. The album gets off to a great start on the title track, where Metheny's folk influences come to the fore with a strummed acoustic guitar base and electric guitar overhead. But the lengthy "Long-Ago Child/Fallen Star" drifts aimlessly in a dreamy fashion that only a new age navelgazer could love, and he doesn't grab the listener by the lapels again until the lovely vamp of "Sueño con México" way down the line. Chalk it up to growing pains.