Album Notes

Champion of Mystery is the fourth CD from Mark Ransom and his first “concept” album. Putting the cart before the horse in a sense, Ransom has created a soundtrack and storyline to be adapted to a screenplay for film or Musical. The songs depict the life and times of Willy Bova: a modern hero who, depending upon your perspective, either just went crazy, or perhaps saw the true nature of things, and tried desperately to share his understanding with the world. This CD is laden with allusion to the post counter-culture of America's West (both lyrically and musically). We find ourselves compassionate for the plight of this sub-urban myth figure, and wonder if he was exiled from his roots (as he claims), or if he left by choice—seeking enlightenment in the high-country of Colorado, Utah, Northern California and Oregon. As with Ransom’s other CDs the songwriting here is poetic, organic and rooted in the acoustic experience. Beyond his previous work however, the grooves are deeper, the bass and drums more thumping and funky... all of which provides a solid backdrop for what is clearly Mark’s most melodic guitar work to date..