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The Sounding Board by R J Lannan |
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RJ Lannan is the reviewer for The Sounding Board. |
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| Wires, Rosewood & Roots |
| By Bob Ardern |
| Label: Self Released |
| Released 4/3/2012 |
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| Wires, Rosewood & Roots tracks |
1. Dusty's Train
2. Skating
3. Palindrome
4. Scotch Rocks
5. Pray For Rain
6. Tea Rose
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7. Flea's Reel
8. Waiting For McAfee
9. Eleanor of Aquitaine
10. Irish Mood
11. Out of Work
12. Windrush
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Don’t Go In The Attic! |
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Listening to Bob Ardern's latest release Wires, Rosewood & Roots is like opening the door to the fun department. From the first tune to the last I could tell that this talented guitarist looked at life with the eyes of the storyteller and the hands of the magician; quick, clever and always with a smile. Wires, Rosewood & Roots is a 12-track album of contemporary guitar music that recounts the everyday life we all have that is chock full of funny stories, mishaps, and favorite things. Bob just seems to do a better job of turning it into music than most of us. I envy his talent. With Bob’s sense of humor I can guess that all of his song titles are stories have quite a history behind them.
Dusty's Train is fairly intricate for an opening tune, but it displays Bob's fretwork rather well. I could almost imagine the coal-fired locomotive as it labored up a mountain pass and onto the plains. And it that time it was responsible for transporting goods to the big cities and people to their new adventures. I for one was glad to be a passenger.
I did not listen to hear if the song was the same backward or forward, but Palindrome has that playful tone that suggests improvisation. It has a cheerful melody and a few sparkling harmonics as I try to guess the answer.
I was listening to Bob's tune Pray for Rain and day dreaming. I looked over at the mountains outside the window. I saw a column of gray smoke in the distance and I thought about the last time we had a forest fire. It has been mighty dry here in the Smoky Mountains. But then it happened. Like Poe's on door, first it was a light patter here and there on my tin roof. Then the skies opened up and blessed rain fell to the sound of a hundred drums. I always thought that rain was a miracle unto itself; nourishing all the plants, renewing the rivers and lakes and cleaning things as it went. Bob's spirited song reminded me that rain has motion, speed and life.
Irish Mood has some traditional Irish elements to it as does the song Tea Rose. The music reminds me of stone bridges, cottages decorated by well-tended gardens and green fields kissed by the rain gods. It was a clear demonstration of the "Roots" part of the album.
There is no minute wasted in Bob's world. Apparently he had enough time to pen Waiting for McCaffee as he waited on the phone for customer service. I am just surprised that it was not a much longer song. The odd things is there may be a few purposeful sour notes in the mix to add to the impatience.
Out of Work hit home for me. As a small time builder I guess I am like a lot of musicians waiting for work, lots of downtime and many prayers for employment. Bob's song is quiet and engaging, with a bit of hope tucked in here and there. This is the soundtrack for the long nights going over the bills at the sprawling, dusty desk, the hopeful walk to the mailbox every afternoon and the unexpected phone call. Luckily, there is plenty of pride left when there is work to be done.
Music has the personality of the performer within and listening to Bob's tune Windrush made me want to know Bob. There are whimsical touches, upbeat tempos and some fun inside the notes. It is fall here in the Smokies and Bob's tune complimented the leaves scurry on the road side, the swaying of the goldenrod in the open fields and the high cirrus clouds that formed wispy horsetails in the pale blue sky.
This is anytime guitar music. Rain or shine, night or day and it will add to your mood, create some notions or calm your spirit. Bob Ardern's music does the job. I certainly look forward to more music from this guitar genius. |
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Rating: Good +  |
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- reviewed by RJ Lannan on 10/5/2012 |
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