On Royal Wood’s fourth release, the current of chamber pop that
wended its way through his previous music has broadened. It’s no longer
just a motif. This feels less like experimentation than a new ethos.
Along with his romantic piano playing and deep, resonant vocal tones,
Wood is joined by a string section (Kevin Fox, cello, Johann Lotter,
viola, Chris Church and Sandy Baron, violin). The ensemble enriches
from within, rather than making cursory, quick entrances and exits into
arrangements. Wood’s songs have always made room for complexity and
counterpoint in mood and melody. “Wish to Paint” and “Poor Little
World” fully realize this approach.
This article appears in Apr 9-15, 2009.