Mike Berman – In the Woods
This set is Mike’s 3rd full-length LP & touches upon basic song themes such as love, loss, regret, longing & emotions. Through this Mike has crafted his repertoire with folk, California folk-rock, roots-oriented music, all with his own distinctive storytelling voice.
The 11 paths to follow In the Woods (Dropped Oct 23/Tanager Records/43:11) were produced by Ed Tree (bass/electric & slide guitars/harmonium/mellotron/synth) & recorded in CA & Washington state. The opener “Honey That Was Me,” has the satisfying beauty in its melody that is mindful of songs Bobby Goldsboro would do (even though Goldsboro had a hit with a song called “Honey” in 1968). My point isn’t that — it’s Mike Berman’s voice that’s pensive, precise, & sincere of tone like Goldsboro. He doesn’t have an easy listening or middle-of-the-road voice but a singer-songwriter’s projection with delicacy.
Singers like England’s late David McWilliams (“Marlena,” “There’s No Lock Upon My Door” “Can I Get There By Candlelight?”) painted songs the way Mike does (“Hospital For the Brokenhearted”). The words aren’t the knock-off lyrics of pop songs but little vignettes with some baroque-pop strings added the way the Left Banke did with “Walk Away, Renee,” & “Pretty Ballerina.”
Berman adds light poetry to his lyrics, adds finger-picking acoustic guitar, and sings with good technique. Rockier is “Hold Back The Sea” with its Al Stewart phrasing (“The Year of the Cat,” “Genie on a Tabletop,” “Time Passages”). The tune has just enough drama, arranged pristinely & sung with a good storyteller voice. It’s rougher than the first songs, but there’s an underlining beauty to it — the lead guitar is tantalizing & melodic.
Berman (baritone vocals/harmonica/piano/acoustic & nylon-string guitars/12-string electric guitar/synth) mixes up the lead instruments in each song with skill. His impressions in my ear are mostly British troubadours. Done well. “Coop the Hawk” opens with Mark Indictor’s violin & it’s arranged with a gentle UK folk song melodic precision ala the late Clifford T. Ward (“Wherewithal” & “Gaye”). Berman has this skill & ability. Each tune in his arsenal has its melodic fervor like Ward. Many tunes are memorable.
Berman adds rich ingredients like baroque-rock, troubadour diversity & blues that are fluid. “Get Me ‘Cross the River” has Byrds chiming guitar color with more Al Stewart magic but, but, but, with “Farthest Thing From the Blues” Mike along with superb singer Elissa Barron burn it up nice together with crunchy lead guitar, bluesy vocals & well, it’s an indulging performance. Play it again, Sam. Play it.
Highlights – “Honey That Was Me,” “Hospital For the Brokenhearted,” “Hold Back The Sea,” “Coop the Hawk,” “Get Me ‘Cross the River,” “Farthest Thing From the Blues,” “All the Ways I Want You” & “Out Beyond the Break.”
Musicians – Conor Sisk (drums), Scott Babock (drums/percussion), Steve Nelson (upright bass), Mary Axelrod (Hammond B3/piano) & Richrd Dodd (cello).
Color image courtesy of Mike’s Bandcamp site. CD @ Bandcamp/Amazon/Apple + https://mikebermanmusic.com/