FERNWOOD

Music:

Member Since: 13/04/2008
Band Website: www.virb.com/Fernwood
Band Members:

FERNWOOD IS:

TODD MONTGOMERY plays Irish bouzouki, sitar, mandolin, tenor banjo, violin and guitar.

GAYLE ELLETT plays Greek bouzouki, ruan, oud, guitar, dilruba, bulbul tarang, jal tarang, harmonium, dotara, gopichand, swarsangam, cumbus, gimbri, rababa, mandolin, piano and upright bass.

BUY THE NEW FERNWOOD RECORD, "SANGITA", RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!! Just click the CDBABY button to go to our store!

You can buy our first CD "Almeria" here, for only $12 from CD Baby with this button

.... ..

..
Influences: "LonePine BioWall 451" by Vittorio Ferrara

"Angan-Angan Dreams" a film by Ron Dayoc, of the Philippines
Music by Fernwood, Uwang Ahada, and other local Philippino musicians

Miguel's video montage...

Sounds Like: SOME REVIEWS:
"Merrily and easily mixing ethnic musical influences from all across the globe in compositional structures with a heritage belonging just as much to the world of jazz and rock as folk music, this skilled and talented duo has produced an album that should appeal to individuals enjoying many different musical styles. Followers of world music may find this just as interesting as fans of jazz-fusion and progressive rock. Indeed, if you enjoy acoustic instrumental music this release is worthwhile checking out no matter how you define your personal musical taste. I happily recommend "Almeria" for those who enjoy acoustic instrumental music of the stringed variety."
PROGRESSOR (Uzbekistan)

"The bowed-string family of instruments has yielded several hundred years of rich textural notoriety, from simple string quartet accompaniments, to orchestral scores, to today's big-screen cinematic media ambiance. In contemporary music culture, we immediately think of the string "pad," an underlying atmospheric sonic palate generated by a violin section, deepened by the additional timbre of cellos and basses, even the last quarter century of synthesizer technology has embraced and imitated the sound, granted somewhat artificially.
What few arranger/composers have done is embraced the bonus subtlety of plectrum, the layered articulation of multiple plucked instruments like mandolin or guitar, let alone it's more exotic relatives like Bouzouki, Ruan, or Sitar. What the two pioneers of cinematic sound Todd Montgomery and Gayle Ellet offer in their recent release, Almeria is a truly stunning and unique array of soundscapes in a "pan-cultural" approach to composition. Self described as "pastoral and psychedelic," their style blends a traditional American acoustic sound with starkly contrasting elements of global influence, including Irish, Eastern European, Indian, and Middle Eastern. It's cowboy, it's jazz, it's Oriental. Despite the extreme diversity, the music of Fernwood is far from confusing, and after listening to the tracks several times, there is a consistently clear, signature compositional identity.
Like the casual beachcomber can hear the sound of the ocean when placing a stray seashell up to the ear, any who listen to this pleasant music can hear their native Southern California (Malibu) geographic setting in their work. It's "no-pressure" art that does not extrovertly "sell," it casually assimilates and charms.
The CD opens with "Sandpiper," major 7th arpeggio cross-picking injecting a reflective, pastoral mood, the opening theme repeated in Rondo form. The extraordinary slide bouzouki lends a linear feel against the rhythmic pulse heard repeatedly throughout the project, and intensely in the subsequent "Open Seas" as the "gallop" of lower strings conveys its title, as if a sailboat were bouncing of the waves at a high, but steady clip.
We are treated to a bittersweet sitar in "Crow," the gentle melancholy harmonic construction woven over a peg-legged 5/4 time. From there, the harmonium is featured in a Balkan "Hungarian Holiday" with what might profess dissimilar voices, a sitar and Rhodes piano, but the duo work it into a convincing textural whole. The haunting melody is consistent and memorable throughout the whole song. The two are expert at crafting fresh, yet recognizable thematic material, and use tremolo effectively as an intense energy builder, especially in the Greek and Irish zouks over the backdrop of rubato arpeggiated plectra and lilting Rhodes piano in "Athenia."
One might consider the music of Fernwood predominantly modal, were it not for their exploitation of continually evolving shifting tonal centers. The Lydian (raised 4th) vocabulary betrays the "Americana" of "Makena" and "Ruidoso." (Having never actually been to Ruidoso, New Mexico, we're not really sure what the geography is like but from the scoring we get a glimpse of "Old West" a playful horsewhip of strings and hoedown humor. We assume it's nestled in some beautiful forested mountains, with lots of fresh clean air.)
It's the slide/plucked Irish bouzouki telling the story in "Crane," and the curious sitar counter point supports and contrasts at the same time, over the backdrop of a punctuating acoustic guitar. "East Window" is yet another songscape with its own intimate story; melancholy major 7th chord progressions snuggled into descending chromatic lines paint a picture of deep and personal introspection. Montgomery and Ellett are undeniably expert at crafting clever texture, the contrast of Rhodes piano and sitar on "Pelican," and the jazzy upright bass texture betrayed by the introduction of tremolo of Chinese ruan on "County Line."
Arguably, the most intimate of all the tracks, this gorgeous lullaby, "Nightingale" moves slowly but deliberately, fingers and plectrum wringing tone out of each note, Chinese ruan over dulcet Rhodes. It's a great way to sensitively end an inexhaustibly varied compilation of textures and timbres.
The whole project is performed flawlessly and multi-tracked by these talented individuals. It's confident and flashy, but never overtly flamboyant.
Absolutely enchanting, a brilliant mix of interesting textures and layers of exotic acoustic timbers. A tantalizing taste of otherworldly aural delight."
JAZZMANDO.com

"Using only instruments made of wood, Todd Montgomery and Djam Karet's Gayle Ellett blend Old-World and contemporary musical styles on their new all-acoustic project Fernwood. This colorful sonic palette results in Almeria, a remarkably cohesive and compelling debut record. Peaceful but never dull… the duo's sophisticated arrangements and deft touch on a variety of instruments bring songs with vivid titles like "Open Seas" and "Hungarian Holiday" to life.”
"Progressive" in the purest sense of the term.”
SEA OF TRANQUILITY

"Veramente bello e rilassante questo progetto realizzato dal duo Todd Montgomery e Gayle Ellett (più famoso per essere membro dei Djam Karet). La peculiarità di questo progetto sta principalmente nell’uso esclusivo (o quasi… ogni tanto spunta fuori un piano Fender Rhodes) di strumenti acustici in legno. Troviamo, quindi, molti strumenti tradizionali abbastanza inusuali per un progetto di musica moderna. I due non si fan scrupolo di usare sitar, mandolini, bouzuki di origine greca o irlandese, oltre la chitarra, ma troviamo spazio anche per uno strumento come l’harmonium. E’ logico che l’uso di questa strumentazione, a parte la nota di colore, non è il motivo principale per il quale mi ha colpito questo cd. I brani proposti sembrano fatti apposta per accompagnare film o documentari (se avete presente il programma Linea Blu della Rai avete capito a cosa mi riferisco). La melodia è l’aspetto più importante delle dodici tracce proposte in questo disco. Siamo quasi in territori new age (molte soluzioni sonore ricordano molto gli ultimi lavori degli Shadowfax) e world music. Il bouzuki è lo strumento più usato e sembra strano che un gruppo che ha la casa che si affaccia sull’oceano sia così influenzato dalla musica mediterranea e mediorientale senza mai dimenticare le radici sonore statunitensi. Non deve meravigliarci, perciò, il fatto di trovare pezzi bluegrass vicino a brani che sembrano usciti da una raccolta di musica etnica greca. Ne viene fuori un quadro sonoro che, anche se ti ricorda mille cose alla fine ha una sua identità di fondo. Assomiglia agli Shadowfax ma i Fernwood non suonano così new age. Può ricordarti qualcosa dell’ultimo Mauro Pagani, ma non è un disco world music. Può ricordarti certe cose dello Steve Hackett più acustico, ma anche in questo caso le soluzioni sonore sono diverse. "Almeria" è un disco che ogni volta che lo ascolti ti lascia qualcosa in più: una nota, un accordo, una sensazione diversa. E’ bello sapere che ogni tanto si trova ancora qualcuno che con la propria musica ti riconcilia col mondo circostante."
ARLEQUINS (Italy)

"Music is known as one of the universal languages by many people. No matter where we come from, we can tell that each song represents various emotions of love, happiness, joy and even regret. Other sensations can be felt from numerous tunes, so it is of no surprise that true music doesn't have to have vocals to reach your heart. Such touching songs can be heard in Fernwood's new CD Almeria. This album catches the essence of instrumental music. Such essence reveals that the most entrancing sounds do not have to be expressed in the words of one human language. The language that Fernwood speaks is very unusual among even the most well known artists. Each track on this album boasts a unique sound that the group proudly states is played on a variety of instruments made from wood. When one listens to tracks such as "Open Seas," one can easily hear how these various instruments come together to create a sound no one can ever forget. Even though no words can explain how uplifting this track is, one can feel at ease as the strings chant a rhythm that can uplift any lonely soul. While no human voice remains to be heard, the 'lyrics' are indeed emotional as almost anyone can be called into a dance possibly reflecting remorse. Such emotions are merely left for the listener to feel. You won’t be disappointed."
EUPHORIA's MUSIC REVIEWS

"If I were a sandpiper, I’d flutter up speaker-wise. The tweeters and company are doling out a new album called Almeria by the band known as Fernwood. I would hear my namesake with the mellow intacacy of instruments made out of wood. That’s what Todd Montgomerey and Gayle Ellett, the experienced creators of this set know all about. They wade in and out of my lazy sandpiper’s afternoon. An afternoon brought to me by a ruminating soft-focus ascension.
Almeria may be a city in Spain, but in Aribic, it's the mirror of the sea. While flashes of Ravi Shankar and Donovan twirl thy feathers, the Southern California harmonic wavesplash is how Fernwood seems to be parenthesizing their grooves upon my wocked beak smile. As a human being, the sounds of actual birds outside of my window sang along to this backdrop of cinematic moments and thus it felt bizarre to think of any troubles I might have. While thinking about how contributing these sounds are to the birds of the city, was as obscure as it was meaningful, my tall glass of sangria had magically vanished into thick air. This duo is already planning another Frenwood release. The next one, be it as thoughtful, shall provide yet another excuse to dance like a sandpiper on the finishing carvings of a mandolin headstock. And why not?"
FARWEST ALMANAC magazine

"Iza sastava / projekta Fernwood stoje dva iskusna i prekaljena muzicara - Todd Montgomery i Gayle Ellett. Njih dvojica su idejni pokretaci svega sto se u muzicko-koncepcijskom smislu naslo na albumu "Almeria". Naime, kompletan album odsviran je i snimljen putem drvenih akusticnih instrumenata, cime je postignut zeljeni efekat. Postignuta je tako atmosfera koja vesto kombinuje svetonazore "drevnih" starijih vremena i novijih ethno uticaja, a ona je evidentna preko svih ponudjenih tema sa izdanja.
Album je snimljen u Malibu i Topanga (California, USA), pod producentskim nazorima pomenutog dvojca i Wayne Yentis. 12 tema i skoro 48 minuta muzike obiluju cestim promenama i prelazima u razlicite ambijentalne i ethno vode i slike koje se stvaraju preslusavanjem materijala vode do razlicitih strana sveta, od Mediterana, preko ruskih ali i blisko-istocnih prostora. Todd i Gayle su vesto i znalacki u skladnu celinu ukomponovali razlicite instrumente kao sto su mandolina, irski buzuki, sitar, harmonijum. To pokazuje ne samo njihovo veliko pomenuto iskustvo, vec i izuzetno dobro snalazenje u jednom ovako ponudjenom muzickom konceptu.
"Almeria" je izdanje koje svakako zavredjuje vasu paznju, te ukoliko vam se ukaze prilika, ne oklevajte da se upoznate sa muzikom benda Fernwood."
Rated: 9/10
BARIKADA.com (Serbia)

“US-based duo Fernwood explore some rather intriguing and unique landscapes with their debut release. Strings is a keyword for this release, as both Gayle Ellett and Todd Montgomery handle a multitude of different string instruments; from your basic acoustic guitar to more exotic varieties like gimbri and rababah. On 11 of the 12 compositions on this creation a multitude of these are used to create structures at times highly complex, with as much as 5 or 6 different melody lines combining, interweaving or performing harmonic layered songs; most often highlighting contrasts in playing style, sound and musical heritage for the various instruments used. The last tune on the release contrasts the other songs here, a slow moving affair exploring the resonances of the individual notes and licks of a single guitar - a nice way to end an adventurous, acoustic instrumental affair such as this one. If complex, ethnic influenced acoustic instrumental music sounds interesting, or if you're a jazz fan intrigued by world music touches in music; this release should be worth getting.”
THEIR VOICES ARE STRINGS

"Dai Djam Karet ad un'ipnotica world music: l'eccellente esordio del duo califoniano. Quando parliamo di Djam Karet vengono in mente le tempeste d'elettricità sollevate con celebri jam, oppure le oasi sterminate di dilatazione elettronica, ma anche le episodiche deviazioni acustiche. Gayle Ellett - chitarrista della storica band - con Fernwood intende approfondire proprio quella direzione unplugged, in un progetto che non è un semplice "staccare la spina". Nato con Todd montgomery, Fernwood è una dimensione a parte, in cui con soli strumenti di legno del bacino mediterraneo (bouzuki, oud, mandolino etc.) il duo rievoca percorsi chitarristici tipici degli anni '70 (Renbourn e Grossman, Loy e Altomare).
"Almeria" è un disco profondamente calato in un'atmosfera mediterranea e marina: un susseguirsi di ballate dal sapore magico, dagli intrecci chitarristici con sitar, oud, su tappeti di fender rhodes e harmonium ("Hungarian Holiday" è un gioiellino, difficile immaginare che sia il frutto di due americani), brani evocativi come "Open seas" e "Makena", la travolgente "Ruidoso". E' un excursus libero, aperto, che profuma anche di California anni '60 (vedi "Crow", quasi ciclica nel suo respiro): d'altronde il duo ha registrato tra Malibu e Topanga, assorbendo dunque certe suggestioni locali, le stesse che nutrivano un Garcia, un Kaukonen, un Cipollina. Non sarebbe male vederli in un ideale concerto con Tito Rinesi, il più "arabo" dei nostri compositori.
Disco estatico e impregnato di malìa, sfiora solo in alcuni frangenti la ripetitività e la noia ma raggiunge il suo obiettivo. Il duo è già al lavoro per un secondo lp, nel frattempo collabora ad alcune produzioni cinematografiche, grazie a questa musica così gravida di visioni, di colori, di passione."
MOVIMENTIPROG (Italy)

"I come across a lot of talented people, and one common "sin" is the inability to be consistent. It's especially common in multi-instrumentalists, and what you guys do is, despite foraging new ground, is keep things within the bounds of an identifiable personality or signature. Nobody else can do what you're doing, it's so totally unique and enjoyable. I wish you much success!"
Ted Eschliman: Owner of www.JazzMando.com

"You guys all probably know by now that at Guitar Player Zen, we really like to emphasize finding your own voice, developing into an artist with your own sound and uniqueness, finding creative and subtle ways to set yourself apart from the crowd, etc. Well Todd Montgomery and Gayle Ellett have done a great job in finding their own niche. What I like about Fernwood and Todd and Gayle, is the fact that they don’t just classify themselves as putting out a guitar album. Rather, it is an eclectic instrumental album, featuring some very interesting instruments. The music on this album is so amazingly beautiful and peaceful. My advice for listening: Put it on your I-Pod, find a nice place outside (or inside) to lay down, close your eyes, and picture yourself on a European beach surrounded by the people you love most. A fun (and awesome) fact about these two is that they have scored numerous soundtracks for film, tv, animation, computer games, music libraries, and other corporate applications. Well enough talk. How bout you listen to a few of their tracks, go to their myspace, and buy their album!"
GUITARPLAYERZEN.com

“California's Fernwood take their musical cues from all over the world and utilize a wide variety of acoustic stringed instruments from the same places to produce their exquisitely crafted gentle acoustic pieces that conjure up images of travel through far off lands, which sound as though they're from everywhere and nowhere at the same time, just a melting pot of wonderful acoustic exotica. The music is melodic, carefully arranged, always holds your attention and is at all times accessable; it is also evident that it has been recorded with a lot of care too, all the musical layers and detail shine through and the instruments occupy their own spaces which is no mean feat considering the complexity of some of the musical arrangements.
Reviewing individual tracks is almost impossible, for to attempt to describe the delicate song structures and to try and guess which of the long list of instruments have been used would be a case of this reviewer doing the whole album an injustice. There are no individual standout tracks, because to highlight some at the expense of others would be so very wrong. If you can imagine yourself in a warm and beautiful land, where there is time to relax, take in scenery and live life at a slower pace than you might be accustomed to, then this is the music that would be playing from somewhere nearby providing a mesmerizing soundtrack to the whole experience.
This is a beautiful album and is wholeheartedly recommended.”
PSYCHEDELICCENTRAL.com

"Fernwood is: Todd Montgomery on Irish bouzouki (slide, plucked and bowed), sitar, mandolin, and guitar (also slide); and Gayle Ellett on Greek bouzouki, ruan, harmonium, oud, guitar (also slide and E-bow), bulbul tarang, gobijen, dotara. organ, Rhodes piano, electric 5-string bass, and upright bass. With all these ethnic instruments, you’d expect a Middle Eastern or Far Eastern sound--but you’d be way off base. Okay, there’s a European flavor to some of the pieces, and a mournful Russian flair in one, but the majority of the music is distinctly Western. And don’t expect the tunes to be strictly folksy, either, because they’re rich with progressive sensibilities. The contrast of such various strings produces a lush pastiche that infuses each track with creative exuberance. Yet this contrast frequently turns around and accomplishes a wondrous amalgamation between ethnic and conventional instruments, resulting in a unique cadence as foreign sound fuse with traditional ones to produce thrilling sonic expressions. Keyboard contributions can be found in some instances. The Rhodes piano injects a very progressive sound to the lilting tuneage, while the harmonium offers the melancholic mood of a Roman campsite.
Again, the ethnicity of the instruments is trumped by the performers’ Contemporary Americana and Old World sensibilities, resulting in music that applies modern character to the foreign strings used. These compositions seethe with passion, whether it’s overt buoyancy or romantic heartstrings. The pieces possess a cerebral character that is often overwhelmed by their innate enthusiasm, commingling serious intentions with a carefree cheeriness. The moods generated by this music are quite diverse. One track (“Hobbs Bay”) excellently conveys a salty sea breeze, while another (“White Oak”) majestically evokes the grandeur of ancient trees that dwarf human perception. A lot of these tracks capture the mood of geological locations, most of them coastal regions thick with noble woodlands. Again, keyboards are incidental, well-hidden, but masterful in their subliminal effects, establishing amiable resonance underlying the spry string presence. These compositions are remarkably bewitching, whether the song is expressing cerebral introspection or frivolous exuberance. An agility is found here, not just in the performance but in the melodies, communicating a joyous celebration of life with brisk effervescence."
SONIC CURIOSITY

"Djam Karet’s Gayle Ellett vervolgt met Sangita de weg die hij insloeg met het album Almeria en doet dit wederom samen met de specialist op folkloristische snaarinstrumenten Todd Montgomery en producer Wayne Yentis onder de groepsnaam Fernwood. Hoewel er opnieuw een karrenvracht aan instrumenten uit alle delen van de aardbol gebruikt worden, zijn de composities minder exotisch en divers als op het debuut, wat een meer coherent totaalplaatje oplevert. Dat neemt niet weg dat de oud in opener Kalyan direct Dhafer Youssef’s meest traditionele (Tunesische) werk in herinnering roept. Verder lijkt de sitar op Helen Island eerder naar de titel van de CD te verwijzen (Sangita-Ratnakarna is een eeuwenoud muziektheorieboek, waarin hoofdzakelijk muziekstijlen die in India gemaakt werden beschreven staan), maar als meer westerse snaren ingezet worden, die subtiel ondersteund worden door het ook bij deze opnames sporadisch opduikende orgel, wordt de verwijzing naar dit Canadese eiland duidelijker. Dat is sowieso het mooie van deze samenwerking: al die uit alle windstreken afkomstige houten instrumenten worden in diverse stukken ingezet, waardoor het normaal aan een streek gebonden geluid van een specifiek instrument nu opgaat in een soort wereld-americana-country-folk. Vergeleken met het vorige werkstuk is de algehele stemming wat ingetogener, hoewel de arrangementen nog steeds diverse melodielijnen naast elkaar laat horen. Dit laatste komt vooral goed tot zijn recht als er met een flink volume aandachtig geluisterd wordt; als achtergrondmuziek gaat de intrigerende spanningsboog die Ellett en Montgomery op Sangita hebben gecreëerd nagenoeg verloren."
iO Pages (Holland)

"A true do-it-yourself project, Sangita — the second all-acoustic instrumental album from Todd Montgomery and Djam Karet's Gayle Ellett — boasts 50 extraordinary minutes of music played on wood instruments carved by hand. The innovative duo incorporates Irish and Greek bouzouki, sitar, dilruba, ruan, oud, gobijen, bulbul tarang, dotara, tenor banjo, harmonium and, of course, good ol' acoustic guitar and upright bass into these dozen songs. Fans of prog, folk, roots, world and jazz music should discover plenty to enjoy here, as each song provides its own distinct sound.
The sparse "Cimarron" trots, while the twangy "Mistral" chirps. "White Oak" flickers, and "Rings Waltz" frolics. And "Helen Island" invokes Santana as "North Wind" continues blowing in a spiritual direction. Such pastoral titles also add to the laid-back sonic atmosphere, making Sangita the perfect summertime-chill companion."
5 out of 5 Stars
SEA OF TRANQUILITY

"Fernwood est une nouvelle formation américaine qui se cantonne dans la musique instrumentale et acoustique. Il faut dire que les deux membres du groupe sont des musiciens aguerris qui ont tout simplement décidé de s’associer pour ce projet particulier. Todd Montgomery est un grand professionnel des instruments à cordes. Il a notamment étudié le sitar avec Harihar Rao, le plus ancien étudiant de Ravi Shankar. Gayle Ellett est plus connu des amateurs de prog : il est entre autres le guitariste de Djam Karet, groupe dont la réputation n’est plus à faire. Nos deux gaillards se sont sans doute fait plaisir, mais ils ont surtout réalisé un disque de grande qualité. En effet, utilisant une grande palette d’instruments, ils ont réussi à enregistrer une douzaine de pièces relativement courtes (de trois à cinq minutes) composées et interprétées avec une grande fi nesse. Même si la formule acoustique peut paraître limitée, elle ne les empêche pas de varier les styles, passant d’une atmosphère mélancolique à un style folklorique enjoué avec la même maestria. Chaque morceau est une petite perle fi ne et agréable. Bien entendu, ce disque n’est sans doute pas celui du siècle, mais il est tout à fait recommandable à ceux qui s’autorisent une ou l’autre escapade hors des sentiers battus."
PROG-RESISTE (Belgium)

“Second album ("Sangita") from the all-acoustic instrumental duo and, while a lot of play is mentioned from the fact that all the instruments are made out of wood and its "world music" connotations, the most important thing about this duo's compositions are their mastery of emotion - throughout the album, there's always a human heart at the centre of operations. Take the opener, Kalyan" for example - the track begins with slow acoustic guitars and what sounds almost like a dobro in the backdrop (but isn't), while the presence of a sitar adds perfectly to the slowly rolling multi-layers, providing the western warmth with eastern exoticism to produce a positively heart-rending slice of instrumental yearning that makes you think of wide open spaces in countryside of great beauty - four minutes of absolute bliss. "White Oak" accelerates the tempo with a country-styled guitar onto which are added crisp guitar chords, soaring sitar and a cyclical acoustic guitar melody, as the whole thing coalesces, adds a touch of bouzouki, meanders through almost violin-like textures before the lead acoustic guitar returns to the riff, and the other instruments return to the source of the piece and build once more - magically constructed and cleverly arranged with so much going on but never overly busy. "Hobbs Bay" provides similar sounding strings from the opener, only here with a more rolling nature to the rhythm, as acoustic guitars, mandolin and other things I can't identify, all combine to produce a chunky five minute track that's solid and melodic, but constantly changing shape as it goes, the latter two things, the key secret to the overall appeal and success of this album. Using other instruments that include dilruba, oud, dotara, swarmandal, rmonium, piano and upright bass, the duo of Montgomery and Ellett give us a further 9 tracks that have at their heart, this wondrously charming sea of melody as well as conveying an emotional state of mind that really makes you want to listen to this music with intent, getting all the joy out of it as much as the musicians are putting in, if not more. As an acoustic instrumental album, its concentration on melody rather than technique, rhythm, musical cliches or conformity, makes it one of the most different, satisfying and gorgeous albums of its kind around today.”
DEAD EARNEST (Scotland)

"Deuxieme effort discographique de deux multi-instrumentistes de Malibu, Sangita incarne le reve Californnien d’aujord’hui. Loin des delires psychedeliques de l’ere hippie ou meme de l’effervescence numerique de la fin du siecle dernier, Fernwood propose un voyage boise et acoustique 100% naturel. L’etude attentive et l’assimilation des maitres du folk global ont remplace l’usage de psychotropes ou d’ordinateurs. Aguerris a l’art du bluegrass, du folk irlandais, familiers des techniques orientales, Todd Montgomery et Gayle Ellett savent faire sonner une multitude d’instruments. Les banjos, bouzoukis, violins, pianos, mandolines, guitares mais aussi harmonium, sitar, dilruba ou oud…n’ont plus de secrests pour eux, lis tirent profit de chacun et les combinent avec gout et talent. Souvent joutes tranquilles manquent toutefois par moment d’asperites."
MONDOMIX Magazine (France)

"Fernwood’s (Todd Montgomery and Gayle Ellett) music is, according to the CD's back cover, "Played by hand on instruments made out of wood." The list of the album's instruments includes sitar, mandolin, guitar, fiddle, organ, upright bass, and many other exotic string instruments from all over the globe. Sangita’s 12 songs display influences from disparate cultures and heritages: Appalachia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, India and other ports of call. You may hear a snatch of bluegrass, a hint of blues, or even an Indian raga. The genre-bending fusion presented on Sangita is reminiscent of banjo player Akira Satake's Cooler Heads Prevail, another fine example of defying world beat conventions."
NEW AGE RETAILER

"Fernwood è un’autentica nuova vita per Gayle Ellett, deus ex machina dei Djam Karet, un’istituzione nell’underground americano. La band per più di vent’anni ha issato la bandiera del no commercial potential con il suo infernale jam-rock, ma ultimamente il chitarrista si è concentrato sul progetto Fernwood con il collega Todd Montgomery. Una world music acustica e “cinematografica”, per soli strumenti di legno del bacino mediterraneo: a ben ascoltare, certe atmosfere lievi e sognanti non sono lontane dai raptus acustici dei DK di Ascension (2001). Sangita è un susseguirsi di quadri, di immagini esotiche e meditative, con chiari agganci all’opera omnia degli Oregon. Un excursus di ricami di oud, bouzuki, mandolini e swarmandal, talvolta punteggiati dai tocchi impalpabili del Fender Rhodes."
JAM Magazine (Italy)

Record Label: Whitehorse One
Type of Label: Indie