Mike Tod
Self-Released, 2023
8/10
A Canadian ethnomusicologist and musician, Mike Tod pens old time flavored songs with a timeless folk quality across these 10 organic tracks that welcome plenty of excellent help.
“The Coo Coo” gets the listen off to an atmospheric start, where the strings make for a very distinct mood, as Melodie Ayoungman’s expressive voice complements Tod’s deeper pipes, and “The Blackest Crow” follows with warm acoustic guitar amid the glowing pedal steel from Wayne Garrett.
“Undone In Sorrow” occupies the middle spot, and enlists Keith Rodger’s rumbling bass and Nathan M. Godfrey’s bright mandolin to the dense climate, while “Back To My Home” places more emphasis on Travis Miller’s percussion amid Tod’s chanting like vocals.
The final two tracks, “Wait For Me” and “My Albera Rose”, are among the best, where the former showcases Ayoungman’s pretty voice alongside Tod’s more gruff demeanor, as the pair harmonize with beauty, and the latter makes great use of violins for a very stirring finish.
An excellent debut album that’s often cinematic and unpredictable, Tod and company put a modern spin some very old songs where he retains the spirit of the originals, but injects a very authentic, rural appeal that suits the small town in the Rocky Mountains that he calls home.
Travels well with: Jaimee Harris- Boomerang Town; Jarrod Dickenson- Big Talk