Tobacco & Rose – Self-Titled
This collection attempts to blend music with spirituality & honor the plant & animal worlds. At least that’s what the press release indicates. It’s uplifting, optimistic & inspiring with some traditional Western influences. There’s a classical thread & there are popular song swipes.
Finger-style guitar is prominent & evident, but the subject approach differs from Dylan, John Prine, or Joni Mitchell. Through his recipe, Richard Moody tries to cook a more rooted musicality in the application of foreign music (India/Pakistan), the way George Harrison applied a sitar to Beatles pop songs. Or at least it’s at times that adventurous (“Broken Angel”).
Produced by Mr. Moody (vocals/guitars/strings) on Vancouver Island, British Columbia the self-titled 9-track solo project Tobacco & Rose is a fine folk/Americana showcase (Drops April 25/Soundrich Records/36:48). Moody’s a 30-year veteran of the Canadian music scene & his songs were inspired somewhat by experiences with psychedelic & medicinal plants from the Amazon & Pacific Northwest.
Saying the music is “plant-based” is a stretch. It’s more naturally stoned music that’s closer to the genre. The Paul Winter Consort recorded LPs with natural environment (trees) inspiration, with vocal sounds of wolves & whales. However, the idea of original songs based on plants (Stevie Wonder did it with “The Secret Life of Plants”) is credible & a challenge.
“Tara” is beautiful & when the Paul Winter Consort conceptualized their music with folky elements, his attempt at cross-pollinating natural music & folk singing came when he recorded “Lay Down Your Burden,” with Susan Osborne on the A&M release “Common Ground.” And yes, there’s a generous, moody Nick Drake touch of lightness, airiness & sophistication in “Tara.” Moody’s vocals are Drake-exquisite, along with Moody’s fingerpicking.
“Bride of Suffering” & “Where My Lover Goes” are more inclined toward the deeper tonalities of Paul Hyde (“I Miss My Mind the Most”). Warm, graceful & with a refined individualism in his balladry style. This music does have earthy essentials & windy strings that add a beautiful foundation. Whereas “Wooded Vale” has a more John Denver/Gordon Lightfoot landscape.
The overall folky feel has an ineffable quality. Each composition is interlaced with its mature components. Not many are mainstream potent, though they have conventional melodies that are more lounge & easy listening based. “Path of the Heart” is another Gordon Lightfoot/ Tim Hardin type piece that’s quite an accomplishment.
Highlights – “Tara,” “Wooded Vale,” “Path of the Heart,” “Bride of Suffering,” “Broken Angel,” & “Where My Lover Goes.”
Musicians – Scott White & Joey Smith (bass), Peter Dowse (electric bass), Joby Baker (drums/organ), Tyler Lieb (pedal steel), Kelby MacNayr & June Mirochnick (drums), Adrian Dolan (piano) & Luke Doucet (electric guitar).
Color image courtesy of Stasia G Photography. CD @ https://www.tobaccoandrose.com/