Iain Archer: To The Pine Roots

DVDfever.co.uk – Iain Archer: To The Pine Roots CD reviewElly Roberts reviews

Iain Archer: To The Pine Roots
Distributed by
Black Records

  • Released: March 2009
  • Rating: 8/10
  • Vote and comment on this album:View Comments

Forest folk from one-time Snowpatroler.

On-off, now ex-Snowpatrol member Iain Archer strides forward with his third solo album since quitting.

To The Pine Roots (taken from A Dylan Thomas poem) is pretty much a lo-fi affair recorded during repeated visits to southern Germany’s Black Forest with friends and family. Images of the Black Forest itself come as a dark and bleak place. In contrast, Archer has conjured an album of perky and pretty songs with more than a little Celtic touchstone.There’s a genuine warmth (log fires maybe) and cuddly feel to the sound, almost, like the efforts of Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago, without the sparseness.

Archer does his thing beautifully, really. His musical buddies seem to have just wandered in (they were invited) and offered their talents by way of chance, without inconveniencing the Irish wanderer. We know they’re there, because when they kick -in, they’re mightily effective, and impressive, in an understated way, just like the album.


There’s no breaking sweat here. Things come across as relaxed and cosy with Archer casually drifting from one song to another. His fragile, hushed and lilting voice adds a touch of innocence across the board, perfectly complimenting his acoustic tenderness. Like the PR blurb says, these songs are ‘borne of liberated songwriting instinct.’ Essentially the album is about hope and life’s challenges. There are wondrous and ponderous tales of the past such as the jolly ‘60s California- lite Streamer On A Kite. Black Mountain Quarry does the same job – reminisce – but it’s not a dark mood he offers, quite the contrary. Jon Kensington’s double bass is both stylish and groovy with Phil Wilkinson’s drumming edgy and solid.

Using metaphors for life and living – The Acrobat sparkles with tingling acoustic pics, supported by wife Miriam’s (almost drone like) harmonium. As a big fan of Neil Young, I can definitely see parallels with Songbird’s Young-like vocal warble and acoustic country-folk from both After The Gold Rush and Harvest.

One song stands out head and shoulders – Frozen Lake. This stunning piece is a love song like no other: simple, direct and poetic. His soaring, and often stretched voice is matched in texture by the exaggerated) movement of his fingers shifting on the fretboard. Wife Miriam handles the Rhodes with great sensitivity, but the clincher is the overwhelming beauty of Oliver Kraus’s strings – breathtaking.

Verdict – A work of art.

Weblink:iainarcher.co.uk


The full list of tracks included are :

1. The Acrobat
2. Songbird
3. Black Mountain Quarry
4. Hey Mia, Don’t Be lonely
5. Everest
6. Frozen Lake
7. Streamer On A Kite
8. To Mend And Move Along
9. The Nightwatchman
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