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PROGGNOSIS
It took me way too much time to finally review this album. Surelly not by fault of David Kendall’s music as ROOT , which I’ve always admire, but because I simply had to get away in a 3+ months hiatus during which I simply disconnected with progressive music (and almost music in general). I know I am in fault here, not only with David (which work is just about to get the deserved attention by yours truely) but with all those who have sent me albums to review during the last, lets say…5 months. For this I humbly apologize, and hope for everyone’s understanding…
Perhaps one of the best compliments I can give to this particular album is that it was one of the very few I kept listening during my “absent” times. Its nostalgia, rich melodies, emotional landscapes and the combination of slightly dark atmospheres with shinning rays of light simply worked for me, working also as a company and/or escape window for my inner turmoil. And I just cant think of a better way to thank David Kendall for his music that to say that it helped me during some dark hours… Wooden Hill is the continuation of a personal work, a personal view upon music, a personal way to portray emotions and thoughts on life. The person behind the project Root has long ago chosen this particular path (and style) and has been very faithful to it, impersonating it, living it and finally sharing it in form of sonic voyages. While I have been enjoying this project since the release of Poles Apart back in 2000, I keep fully enjoying the selected musicality, the simplicity of processes that nevertheless always deliver fully enjoyable musical journeys. And this Wooden Hill has became my personal favorite from all Root’s albums that I have been reviewing as soon as they reach my hands. This because it seems to me that the melodies have been even further perfected in this release, the focus on the guitar that is displayed in this album absolutely works in favor of the final result, and finally because it simply appeared in a phase of my life in which it fitted perfectly my needs. So this review may sound more personal than usual while I keep trying to address it properly to all readers…
As said, this album seems to be more focused on the guitar and vocals, while keeping the usual instruments in all the right places, all combining to create an album where complexity is kindly replaced by effectiveness and where harmony walks freely in the created melodies.
To pinpoint a tag in which the readers can better identify the style of Roots music, I could say that this is a most enjoyable brunch of the so called Neo-Prog or Melodic Prog. Simple, enjoyable, well written, well played. For those who enjoy these qualities, Wooden Hill is not to be missed!
PS: Ah, and again, the artwork of the album is astonishing!!
DPRP
Wooden Hill is the sixth album by über-talented David Kendall under his musical sobriquet of Root. It has been two years since his last album Illumination and I for one have been looking forward to this album. This new album effortlessly blends the more laid back and melodic approach of Illumination with the more overt progressive sensibilities of the double Resolution album of 2003. On this new album, Kendall has gone back to exploring the sounds that he can get out of his guitar, which he considers his primary instrument, and using the keyboards in a more supporting role. Which is not to say Kendall has gone all plank-spanking six string maniac: the characteristic Root melodies, harmonies and layering of textures are present - indeed it is possible the Wooden Hill is the most sonically gorgeous album to appear by this one-man music machine.
The album is replete with great hook lines, little flourishes (such as the pizzicato string effect on Time Breathes) and, of course, some great guitar playing. The albums seems to be an exploration in what the guitar is capable of, in terms of the range of sounds and textures that can be elicited from the instrument. With careful listening once can hear all sorts of almost subliminal additions to the songs that subtly merge to form the complete song. One can only wonder how may overdubs have been laid down on some of the tracks. But don't get the impression that this is an album with extraneous elements fighting against each other to be heard. Take the aforementioned Time Breathes, there are periods of uncluttered simplicity, for example during the incisive guitar solo which leads into a brief, almost pastoral piano and acoustic guitar section followed by a more restrained solo. Again, the range of guitar sounds gives the piece a variety that maintains the interest and makes the track fly past. It also happens to contain my favourite lyric line of the past few months - "Penny for your second thoughts"!
I have been unable to get the chorus line from So Sorry out of my head ever since first hearing it. A big production number that wraps the rather melancholy lyric in a warm and soothing cloak. The title track, Wooden Hill, is, I believe, the first instrumental Root number. More aggressive than what has gone before and a more upfront use of keyboards. The guitar solo is exceptionally well recorded with the faintest trace of reverb; one can literally hear Kendall's fingers lifting from the strings. The upbeat tempo is maintained on Lifeline and onto the two-part Hollow. Okay, so perhaps there is rather an excess of the layered vocals providing a very characteristic sound throughout, but it is executed very well and doesn't distract from any of the individual tracks, and does add a lot to most. Four Corners Of The World, the second part to Hollow features some great instrumental passages (is that a sitar at the beginning?!) but ends rather abruptly, it would have been nice if it had been extended a few bars longer and flowed into Find Your Freedom. A funky bass line permeates this song, which I do think suffers from a bit of over-production. I think the song could have benefited from being pared back a bit, less of the vocals and more prominence on the acoustic aspects of the song.
The album ends on the joyously up-beat Grown an unashamed pop song with a great twin guitar solo. I can imagine a band like Take That (no doubt the first mention of that band in a prog review, but they are a seriously good pop group!) taking on such a song and making it a stage favourite - well it would be one way of increasing the female prog audience!
Wooden Hill is another fine album by Root. The artwork is quite literally a work of art and as much care and attention to detail has gone into packaging the album as has been administered to the music. Available for a very reasonable price from the Root website, the album is a good investment of anyone's time and money. Conclusion: 9 out of 10
MARK HUGHES
Rock Society
It's a couple of years since we last heard from Root or Leicester musician David Kendall as he is in real life and this is now his sixth album since his debut in 1998. He seems now to have adopted a two year gap between releases and this, Wooden Hill, is aimed somewhere at the middle ground between his two previous albums. Again, David plays all instruments but the guitar, on which he truly excels, is used more with keyboards mainly providing background support. David loves the lofty guitar solo and has a style very much like David Gilmour and Nick Barrett and his playing can literally take your breath away. His vocals are stronger and now seem so full of confidence that he is more than capable of taking that next step and moving into the bigger league.
Terry Craven Rock Society
Arlequins
Quanti dischi di questo tipo ho ascoltato? E quanti ne avete ascoltati voi, appassionati di rock sinfonico-romantico, ai quali questo cd (ma anche questa recensione) è maggiormente destinato? Risposta facile: tanti; veramente tanti… Quindi senza difficoltà può essere descritto questo “Wooden hill”, visto che è il classico album contenente un prog (o new-prog, se preferite) con ampi spazi strumentali, cambi di tempo e di atmosfera, buon gusto melodico e gli inevitabili riferimenti a Genesis, Camel, Pink Floyd (quelli di “Wish you were here”), Marillion, ecc. E come sono tanti i cd simili che abbiamo ascoltato, sono tanti quelli che continuano a uscire. Improbabile, quindi, affermarsi ed emergere in un oceano di lavori che hanno caratteristiche in comune. Di sicuro David Kendall, il musicista che si cela dietro la sigla Root, sa il fatto suo ed ha realizzato un prodotto sicuramente gradevole. Specie con la chitarra è preparato ed ha talento, cosa dimostrata ampiamente quando la sei corde elettrica va in primo piano, con solos elegantissimi, fini melodie e andamento generale piacevole. Altrettanto arduo è trovare e indicarvi ciò che può dare a “Wooden hill” quel qualcosa in più rispetto alla concorrenza e che può spingervi a puntare su questo cd piuttosto che su altri. Di sicuro mi sento di dire che buona musica ce n’è; di sicuro si vede che è un’autoproduzione decisamente ben fatta; non si eleverà mai dalla massa ormai enorme di prodotti affini in circolazione, ma se siete amanti del romanticismo prog britannico vi piacerà certamente.
Peppe di Spirito
MLWZ
“Wake up dreamer, wake up, don’t you know your day has come…” – these words are the motto of a new album by a musician hiding behind the pseudonym Root. So, dear reader, wake up dreamer, I have a story about a very interesting album to tell.
In 1998 Dreams Of Green album was released, in 1999 – Follow The Dawn, in 2000 – Poles Apart, in 2003 – Resolution, and in 2005 – Illumination. This summer, there comes an album entitled Wooden Hill. All of those CDs are signed with the name “Root” which is the artistic nickname of a British musician David Kendall. He plays all the instruments, sings, produces his albums, records them in his own recording studio, illustrates album covers and takes care of his website – all by himself. A real “D.I.Y man”. Thanks to this, he can probably avoid unwanted conflicts, unnecessary artistic compromises, which usually accompany work in a group and he can realize his musical ideas without any obstacles and present them to the public without having to change anything from his original intentions. Thanks to this he is also able to plan the direction in which his music is going to follow quickly on his next recordings, basing it on the fans’ reaction. According to the fans and the critics, Resolution was rather a pure prog album, whereas Illumination was more melody-pop orientated. On his latest album, David decided to mix those two streams and choose the most interesting elements from them so that the Wooden Hill would please the widest group of listeners.
And indeed, on the album you can hear melodic and light themes as well as more complicated and extended arrangements. But there is no division to pop tracks and progressive tracks here. It’s just the opposite. Everything that I mentioned above is happening during each composition. All 8 tracks of the album merge those two streams and thanks to this Wooden Hill is a very mature rock music with numerous accessible melodic lines. Peacefulness and harmony radiate from this album. Kendall doesn’t accelerate when it’s unnecessary, he plays the sound in a melodic and dignified way.
I’ve an impression that on the new Root’s album the guitar is domineering and that a couple of times it takes over the keyboards. When we are presented with a guitar solo it is rather kind of melodic in the Andy Latimer’s or David Gilmour’s style than played at a breakneck speed. What disturbs me a little bit on Wooden Hill is the sound of the synthetic, computer-generated drums. I think that a real instrument would add color and grace to Kendall’s music.
But still, I think that Wooden Hill is the very pleasant album in quite a big Root discography. He won’t make a stylistic revolution in rock music society, but the fans of melodic and peaceful playing on the very high level will surely find something for them on this very nice album.
Artur Chachlowski
Music in Belgium
A little less than three years after "Illumination", again the English multi-instrumentalist David Kendall. We propose the sixth opus of his project Root. This time, he wanted the guitar take over on keyboards while pushing further the adventure of each piece.
Incidentally once again achieved excellent design also by our songwriter. The care taken in the layout, the variety of colors and shimmering superb pocket opens a window into his musical world.
Fewer pieces therefore on this opus, eight instead of twelve, but some offer more extensive always imbued with progressive rock influences are to be found on the side of Genesis or Pink Floyd. This time we feel as close tones employed by The Pineapple Thief. It is true that the guitar has become more important that brings great dynamism in the arrangements. The soft-spoken Kendall benefits to distill accents harder at times which is not an evil. It also provides a lot of backing vocals that give the extent to the whole as "Wake up" at the fabulous guitar solo sensitivity.
"Time Breathes" is more rhythmic side with a pop-rock by its haunting vocals and keyboards more present on the first part, while the second guitar is done floydienne especially during the solo, a perfect reincarnation of Gilmour. Slicks nagging keyboards and vocals on "So Sorry", a perfect example on the side Pineapple Thief. The title gains momentum over time imposing voice bewitching. It's the guitar that starts "Wooden Hill" to a stiffer, keyboards enchaînent swirling on all sides, but the guitar is always on the front. A kind of duel between the two instruments for the instrumental which also includes a solo worthy of a great David Gilmour resonant here as a tribute to guitarist.
On the previous album we noticed a few tons Marillion Hogarth time, they are here in the song "Lifeline", the most pop-rock of the washer without doubt. The song of David is not unlike the style Neal Morse. The slow pace of "Hollow" captive. The impressive voice. The careful arrangements of this piece epic in fact one of the best on the album, absolutely irresistible with big melodies. "Find Your Freedom" played on the emotion with great simplicity and highly refined. "Grown" achève l 'album on a more gay.
The incredible maturity felt throughout the listening of this opus from Root is no doubt that you will put one ear. The artist is self-produced and offers high-quality albums. It would be a pity to miss it. See you soon on its site to buy her opus especially since they are not very expensive for displaying it a price of 16 euros mailing costs included.
Jean-Pierre Lhoir | ||
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