Simplicity, tranquility and a mind with an air of other-worldliness – these are the qualities that struck me most about Randall Goodgame as he sat perfectly at ease and cross-legged on the couch opposite me. I could tell that he is someone who sees the world very differently from most of us. Common everyday things, such as a pair of old army pants, can extract a stirring song from Randall’s thoughtful, inquisitive mind (in “Susan Coats’ Pants†from the 2004 record “War and Peaceâ€). Encapsulating what inspires this artist cannot be limited to mere paragraphs… it is life in general. “Melody and meaning,†Randall said to me. Those are what music must posses for him… and I believe him. In a generation that feeds on either watery, ambient sound with brooding lyrics or overly-manufactured pop, Randall steps forward to bring feeling and depth back with his rhythmic tunes for a listening experience reminiscent of music legends such as Stevie Wonder, Elton John and Paul Simon.
Four years have passed since the release of Randall’s last album “War and Peace,†and now he’s writing again for album number five. Well-versed in folk music as a frequent writer for the group Caedmon’s Call (INO Records), Randall is putting down his guitar and going back to the instrument he grew up on – the piano. “The songs I’m writing,†said Randall, “are what happens when I’m writing on the instrument I’m most comfortable with.†What you will hear is a representation of Randall’s musical past blended with his real-life experiences in the present. “Reverie,†a new song written about his wife of seven years, is the mark of Randall’s maturity as an artist, how the past four years have molded him and, in a way, reveals his true musical identity. From the smooth, soulful vocals to the rich and captivating piano melody, “Reverie†invites the listener to celebrate love and devotion with a joyful innocence. A whole new chapter begins to unfold through the infectious, piano-based melodies he is creating, once again letting all that surrounds him become a part of the song and a part of the story that is Randall Goodgame.
