At first spin of Michael Garfield's extraordinary acoustic work Double-Edged Sword, the opener, "Spokes," finds the ears captivated and entranced in a three-minute dance of delightful sonic textures. Crafted into a pulsing rhythm of tones and melodic colors, this type of music succeeds in spelling out an image with utmost clarity. The song could represent, in this case, the spokes of an adventurous bicycle ride through the seasons of life. The tune drives the album's resonance, boosting the pace of the six-song disc with creativity, much like a well-oiled machine of classical guitar music.

Residing in Colorado, Michael Garfield is known for his intense reflections on sound through painting. He should also be noted for completing this project entirely by himself, recording in his home studios in both Boulder and Lawrence, fine tuning and tweaking each tiny tune as the sole engineer and producer.

"Bathe with me, beneath a veil of tears / pray with me on still and silent years / the levy has broken / the sea overflowing." These words mark an intense message in the record's highlight, "Let it All Get Out." A gifted instrumentalist, Garfield uses layers of guitar, bass and acoustic percussion, churned in a soup of pedal effects, in order to surround the landscape of the album's overall makeup, as to create an orchestrated effect. The composition is stellar, the guitars executed to form a collage. Garfield's vocal prowess should not go unheard either, resonating in haunting fashion, full of chills and thrills. "Sonnet A" brings forward the beat of the human heart, painting his insight into the listener's soul. The pulse and rhythm segues into a short passage titled "Underground River," a tune that explores the depths of a man's journey through darkened times, only to find the light through perseverance. This is wonderful, simple music for the listener's ears to feed on - a short record that requires little patience. Through digesting this album's content, with all its innate details and acoustic flourishes, there should be little room for disappointment. (self-released)