Tim Woodruff - Keeper Of The Forest

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Tim Woodruff’s Keeper Of The Forest takes me on a contemplative, tranquil journey through immemorial forest landscapes full of nuance, emotional depth and interlinked sonic palettes. This is music for relaxation and escape from the world’s troubles and stress that is still strongly engaging.

Perhaps the most engaging aspect to Keeper Of The Forest is Tim Woodruff’s ability to immerse the listener in atmosphere. All of the varied musical elements combine to weave mental images of ancient forests, full of deep peace and hidden secrets. This album is green, growing and full of shadowy corners as it unfolds.

Keeper Of The Forest is also notable for Tim Woodruff’s melodies. His melodic writing is intensely expressive, emotionally engaging and full of intertwining feelings. I enjoy his ability to build melodies that are touching and soothing, shot through with both hope and more painful emotions. I feel drawn into the music by the melodic craft.

The choice of sonic palette also contributes to my enjoyment of this album. There's an organic quality to many of the instrument choices that emphasizes the feeling of venturing into rich, lush woodlands. I also enjoy the washes of dense bass that fill the music, along with more obviously digital sounds that add an interesting contrast.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

"Before The Dawn (5 AM)” commences as distantly ticking, metallic drums shape hallowed, worshipful synth that expands in gently drifting chords. Intensely resonating, chiming notes sparkle and lush bass rumbles as drums add form.

Fragile, glowing synth carries a melody that beautifully creates calm in me as drums keep ticking and creamy bass laps, breathing tranquility. Shadow touches the track and the bass fades as diffused light emanates from the lead synth. Dense bass returns and shaping drums lightly touch the track.

There’s deep peace in the bass clouds while airy synth slips through the music, exhaling meditative contemplation. Pre-dawn languor pervades every musical element while the bass rumbles and the track fades on tender lead synth.

Ethereal synth exhalations slide into my ears and caress my heart as “In The Pines, Beneath The Stars” begins. Chiming notes vibrate in luscious lines, feeling suffused with fragile light as synth clouds breathe below them.

Strings intertwine in a melody both hopeful and hurting as it sings above shimmering chimes. The balance between the elegiac strings and the chimes with their uplifting emotion pleases my ears. Strings swell into a majestic crescendo as the chimes vibrate in the background and bass waves lift the other musical elements.

The main melody soars outward, gently affectionate and tinged with an ache. A flute’s breathy voice lends a gliding quality to while the strings intertwine in touching melodic motion and brass cries out with strength and nobility. A xylophone’s sylvan reverberation echoes into open space and silence falls.

“The Mountains (for Dungeons Deep)” opens as rain patters softly and thunder rolls.  Choral synth chants out, forming impressions of timeless ritual, as a cello-like tone supports it.

Strings repeat a melodic pattern that effectively creates hypnotic motion below choral voices. A hang drum adds its unique tone in a melody that paints imagery of craggy heights clad in mossy forest. A harp-like synth sings a tale of heroic journeys and magical places.

The strings grow and fill the background with a rich, emotive secondary melody, full of hoary memory and affecting feelings. Ringing, string-like tones interweave with the hang drum sound to produce a melody that pierces me to the core while shadowy cello tones fade into rain and wind.

Fresh water burbles as diffused, gossamer notes swirl to begin “The Forgotten Woods.” Deeply resonant synth carries a contemplative melodic pattern as broad, piano-like notes flit in between trickling water.

All of the sonic elements interact effectively to create a lush audio environment. Metallic, string-like synth carries a skipping melody, gently flickering as soft-edged, medium-high synth carries wandering notes.

A dense, full synth pattern smoothly glides, enhancing the impression of mossy glades and springs bubbling forth. Strings tremble and yearn in a melancholy melody  wheedling above the track’s low end. The strings add texture before the track ends on rounded, resonating synth.

"Firefly Sunset” comes to life as crackling static shifts along with a hang drum shimmering in a distant, airy drift. A violin carries a mournful melody as digital- sounding, medium-high notes flit like the song’s fireflies over a thickly flowing bass carpet.

Sweeping, gleaming synth chords intertwine above full-sounding depths. Higher notes shine out on a keyboard as extending synth moves with a windblown rush. Violin carries the hurting, dreaming melody while chiming notes twinkle together and lush bass glides to add support.

The main melody has a lingering longing within it to which I am drawn. The violin drifts in tremulous notes above the velvet weight lifting it. The track ends on rushing air and the violin’s deep expression.

Wind blows and digitally flickering synth repeats a hypnotic pattern to open "When The Last Leaf Falls.” Twangy guitar roams and medium-high, bending synth carries a wistful, enfolding melody out in creamy waves.

A hi hat ticks gently as throbbing, full-toned drums double a nasal-sounding note pattern that adds texture. A synth mingling oboe-like qualities with cosmic flow carries a melody mingling uplift and tragedy as round-toned synth arpeggiates and the reverberant bass flows.

Bluesy, expressive guitar unfolds in a well-executed solo deep with heartfelt emotion. Lower sonic elements add strength as nasal-sounding arpeggios drift. The guitar whirls through another solo, feeling hopeful and hurt as the track ends on bright notes.

“Into The Morning” begins as gleaming, piano-like notes play encouraging chords.  Cymbals flare and pulse along with guiding drums as glistening synth sings a melody exuding positive emotion.

Light notes trip in rippling patterns and warm synth slips along to add a breathy quality above solid bass and shaping drums. A feeling of new beginnings fills the music in a way that I enjoy and tripping notes dance along. All of the musical elements are gentle and there’s ease in the track.

Sparkling, raised synth shines like breaking dawn as strings add aspirational emotion.The percussion guides the music along with smooth motion before the track ends on glowing strings.

Conclusion

Keeper Of The Forest is image-rich, emotionally engaging and touching. It carries me through sunlit glades, across sparkling streams and through mossy hillocks that exude verdant life. Tim Woodruff is a good companion for a journey through these ancient landscapes.