Platero y Yo [Double Album]

The moment I began listening to this and grasping what it was about, I knew I’d found what I was looking for. This was it. I’d go even further to say that this would be my choice for record of the year award. [...] It’s really hard to describe the beauty of this music, for music begins where words end, and everything about this music—its performance by Johansen, the sound of his guitar, and the acoustic of the venue in which it was recorded—is transporting and transformational. Technically, Johansen’s playing is breathtaking, but more, it’s achingly beautiful.

Platero y Yo is a landmark among 20th-century guitar compositions and is justly celebrated by guitarists for its musical, expressive and illustrative qualities. The top-notch playing here, and the well-conceived and involving multimedia elements of the overall presentation, should help bring the beauty and meaningfulness of the work to a considerably wider audience. [...] Johansen’s first-rate playing invites contemplation as well as straightforward enjoyment of his virtuosity and his sensitivity to Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s interpretation of Jiménez’ vision.

...this release is a treat. Interesting, wonderful music for solo guitar, a series of short (a few minutes long) interludes based on verses from a lovely prose/poem, superbly played and recorded, and all wrapped up in an excellent package.
[...] The performances here are, in a word, superb. Johansen certainly is no novice, with a number of recordings and awards to his credit. Moreover, it is obvious, both from his notes in the accompanying booklet and from his playing, that he cares deeply about this music. Technically, the performances are  fully adept, with never any sense of strain. But more than that, Johansen conveys emotional nuance without overemphasis, energy when needed and quiet introspection when called for, not drawing attention to himself but letting the music speak through his instrument.
Then there’s the recording: the booklet informs us that the album was recorded in Fredensborg Palace Chapel in Denmark by special permission of King Frederik X. In this case, the king certainly has done a public service: the acoustics of the chapel are reverberant but not muddy, suiting the music very well, and the engineers have captured the sound wonderfully.

Johansen is not the first guitarist to record this entire collection, but he might be the best to do so. [...] OUR Recordings gives Johansen's guitar a warm and intimate sound, so there are no concerns on that account.

The combination of phenomenal sound and a guitarist who has soaked up this music like a sponge is unbeatable, Wholeheartedly recommended.