Matthews, Rodney & Friends: Lost In The Wild Wood (single)

If you’re reading this webzine (which you clearly are), there’s a strong chance that you already own a piece of Rodney Matthews related work through the countless and universally excellent album covers that he’s created for a whole host of bands. In more recent times Rodney has turned his hand from not just what’s on the outside of the releases he illustrates, but also in a few cases, what you can find inside. As far back as 1992 he was the drummer on an EP titled The House On The Rock with Rudi Dobson, before returning for a full album, Trinity in 2019 with keyboard master Oliver Wakeman - with a stand alone single also appearing from the pair the same year.

Wakeman is involved again here as Matthews digs into his contact list to assemble a fine selection of ‘& Friends’ for the single Lost In The Wild Woods, which finds the band leader writing the lyrics based round a passage from Wind In The Willows, although it also has deeper reaching tendrils into the ideas of exploration, self discovery, creation and being bold enough to carry all of these things through. With long links with the band Magnum it’s pleasing to see Tony Clarkin lend a hand composing alongside Matthews and Pete Coleman, the latter providing all manner of folk based pipes, tambourine and guitar, while Roberto Vitelli (The Samurai of Prog) adds bass and Clare Hines electric hurdy-gurdy. Vocally Magnum man Bob Catley shares the limelight evenly with Charlotte Dickinson, with the former handling the rockier section of this track and the latter the folk led passages.

The track itself is a journey, English bagpipes and Matthews’ excellent drumming paving the way for recorders and then Dickinson’s clear, engaging vocals to set us out on our voyage. There’s a more whimsical Jethro Tull feel as things build evocatively before pausing… and then Bob Catley’s voice introduces a more bombastic, and yes, Magnum like section with real authority. Clarkin’s guitar solo adds yet more atmosphere combined to Wakeman’s excellent piano, and basically, if you love Magnum, then you need to have this single for this section alone. However, as the track recedes into its more folkier side at its close so you can’t help but revel in the beauty of that aspect as well.

I must admit that I had reservations that this little single, with it’s (as you’d expect) beautifully illustrated cover, would be nothing more than a vanity project, but how wrong could I be? Excellent stuff indeed and hopefully there’s more to come from Rodney Matthews & Friends.

Track Listing
1. Lost In The Wild Wood

Added: July 23rd 2023
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Rodney Matthews online
Hits: 490
Language: english

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