[utube foo=”2Hl4ugPXfYA”]Acoustic Alchemy’s latest recording Roseland is a great step in a new direction. First, Roseland is released on their newly formed Onside Records recording label and has been exclusively licensed to Concord Music Group/Heads Up International. Second, it was recorded in England, UK at Miles Gilderdale’s newly built studio in York called 9 Miles High. But most of all, the 13 songs recorded for Roseland are individual gems that any listener is sure to enjoy be they rock, jazz, country or reggae music fans.
The program is eclectic and yet cohesive and features the stellar writing of Greg Carmichael and Miles Gilderdale on all 13 songs. Joined by their touring band – keyboardist Fred White, bassists Gary Grainger and Julian Crampton, and drummer Greg Grainger, and several great guest musicians, both Miles and Greg exercise lots of non-acoustic playing on such great songs as “The Ebor Sound System” which is ripe with reggae groves and synthesized guitar sounds, “Swamp Top” which features a variax for more texture, plus “Roseland” and “Stealing Hearts” which features Gilderdale’s steel acoustic guitar for a full-on country sound.
“Right Place-Wrong Time” is one for straight-ahead jazz fans and offers some great fretwork and odd-time signatures and changes. Overall, Roseland takes listeners on a musical journey through several different styles and is a CD that deserves to be in your collection. Highly recommended.
[sotj]