FERNWOOD
Malibu, CA |
You can hear full-length versions of FERNWOOD's music, on the player above.
ALL MUSIC PLAYED BY HAND, on INSTRUMENTS MADE OUT OF WOOD!
Fernwood is also at:
www.MYSPACE.com/montgomerytsingh
(You can buy the CD directly from CD BABY here...for $12.oo INCLUDING FREE shipping inside USA)
Frail and haunting, beautiful and dreamy, the music of composer team Todd Montgomery and
Gayle Ellett has a unique, yet familiar feel. Both of them have been composing and performing music professionally, for over thirty years each. Working under the name "Fernwood", their cinematic music blends the beautiful sounds of Greek & Irish bouzouki, sitar, acoustic guitar, Chinese ruan, Turkish cumbus, Moroccan oud, mandolin, harmonium, rababa, gimbri, dilruba, bulbul tarang, jal tarang, dotara, tenor banjo, swarsangam, gopichand, upright bass and rhodes piano.
ABOUT THE MUSIC:
Todd Montgomery and Gayle Ellett are currently exploring new areas of folk-psyche music. Contemporary yet Traditional, their music has a strong pan-cultural feel. By combining elements of Pastoral Acoustic Psychedelic music, with the sounds of Traditional American, Irish, Eastern European, Asian, and Middle Eastern music, they have created a hybrid style that is uniquely their own.
GUITAR PLAYER Magazine discribed their music as "Wonderfully melodic, expertly layered, masterfully interwoven, luscious yet rootsy".
Their music has a strong autobiographical feel that accurately portrays a sense of who they are and where they live. Recorded in their Malibu studio, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, their music is a reflection of their lives in Southern California as well as the previous work they've done in the areas of Film and TV composition, Traditional World music, Rock and Jazz.
Currently, they are working on a second CD due out in early 2009, that will be in a similar style as "Almeria".
They are also working with numerous film directors from around the world, on a wide variety of projects. These include artistic, commercial, and NGO films from: Holland, India, Brazil, UAE, Finland, South Africa, Thailand, Australia, Croatia, Serbia, Turkey, New Zealand, Italy, France, UK, Belize, Indonesia, Cuba, and Mexico.
SOME REVIEWS:
"Fernwood is the brainchild of multi-instrumentalists Todd Montgomery and Gayle Ellett. The two have scored numerous film soundtracks both together and individually, and it shows. The songs are wonderfully melodic and emotionally direct, the diverse instruments are expertly layered, and dynamics are an essential aspect of the orchestrations. Acoustic stringed instruments constructed of wood predominate, and timbre and sonority suggest place and idiom as strongly as the actual compositional structures. Middle Eastern, Asian, African, and European motifs are masterfully interwoven with Americana to form a luscious yet rootsy imaginary idiom that is intriguing, uplifting, and at once familiar and exotic."
GUITAR PLAYER Magazine
"This month's Spotlight is a beautiful acoustic based track featuring a combination of instruments that we rarely hear. While the writing, arranging and performances are of the highest order, it is the blend of the various instruments in the mix that really makes "Open Seas" something special to our ears. Gayle and Todd have skillfully managed to combine numerous stringed instruments, many with competing frequency ranges, into an open, airy mix that leaves space for each individual sound source, while maintaining a full cohesive feel, free of artifact and digital "nasties." Relax and enjoy! Well done!
Highly Recomended"
RECORDING Magazine
"Fernwood is a musical entity of two musicians who feel each other's essence for such cooperation well. This acoustic cooperation is rather descriptive in a very moody way, with pickings and notes in different rhythmical speeds, spinning around, with some lovely tunes. The listing in my 'acidfolk' section does not completely do justice to the release. Especially young people often tend to look for something with a hype factor, with "weird" or strange or modern associations, while the mature composer also recognises better things that last longer, or that reflect harmonic balances. For record companies, harmonic results are also harder to sell or categorise, when the music does not follow any of the mainstream tendencies. Fernwood's music reflects harmonic pulses and melodies, arranged by the inspirations of a duo playing together with interactions and melted ideas of compositions, and a whole diversity of instruments."
"Recommended!"
PSYCHEDELICFOLK.com (Belgium)
"Californians Gayle Ellett and Todd Montgomery bring a mastery of instruments ranging from bouzoukis and sitars to harmonium, oud, Chinese ruan and mandolin, to a series of captivating original compositions. Each piece has a cinematic feel but is complete in itself, the sounds all slot satisfyingly into place, and the album makes a cohesive, diverse and very rewarding listen."
fROOTS (Folk Roots) Magazine (Ireland)
"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)
"Majestätisch in ihrer Ruhe und Demut, kraftvoll in ihrer Sanftmut, inspirierend in ihrer Bescheidenheit und Einfachheit. Dass Instrumentalmusik, die unter gleichsam esoterischen Aspekten wie ,,handgemacht" und ,,Instrumente ausschließlich aus Holz" produziert und vermarktet wird, nicht nach Frömmelei riecht - wer hätte das gedacht? Dafür stehen Gayle Ellett und Todd Montgomery offenbar einfach zu fest auf dem Boden der Tatsachen ihres heimatlichen Malibu: Wenn sie nicht alle Arten von Gebrauchsmusik für Filme oder Computerspiele produzieren oder sich Progressive Rock, Folk oder Jazz spielen, gehen sie gern surfen oder Drachenfliegen. Vielleicht kommt der ausgeprägte Sinn für Organik und Harmonie, der das Debütalbum ihres Fernwood-Projektes durchzieht ja aus dieser Art Erdung in der wirklichen Welt? Sanft bauen sich die vor allem auf Bouzoukis, Sitars, Mandolinen, Gitarren, Bässen und dergleichen gespielten Stücke meist auf, schwellen gelegentlich wie Philip Glass' ,,Koyaanisqatsi" oder ,,Powaqqatsi" ein Stück an und vergehen wieder. Dabei haben sie einen Sinn für Rhythmik, der sie über Geflirre erhebt, einen Sinn für Dynamik, Struktur und Proportion. Und natürlich sind auch Instrumente wie ein Rhodes Piano mit am Start - aus Holz? Kleine Lüge gelegentlich gehört dazu."
FOLKER! Magazine (Germany)
"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 (England)
"Fernwood is a new project by the composer team of Todd Montgomery and Gayle Ellett and Almeria is their debut album. Gayle has appeared on more than 50 CDs and is one of the mainstays of Djam Karet. Todd is a specialist in Irish and American music, having played on the soundtrack of the movie "The Veronica Guerin Story".
The concept behind this album should be enough to tempt any lover of acoustic music to click straight across to CDBaby and grab a copy of this album for a mere $12. The idea is beautiful in its simplicity: All the music is played by hand, on instruments made out of wood. The exhaustive mix of instruments is what separates this album from any acoustic instrumental record I've ever heard. The instruments are used in different combinations across the 12 songs. As a result there is a such a wide range of sounds, textures and energies that each stands as a wholly individual listening experience. As a listener I was kept enthralled, as each track opened new possibilities. An enchanting, beautiful and captivating aural pleasure."
Conclusion: 9 out of 10
Dutch Progressive Rock Pages at www.DPRP.net (Holland)
"What the two pioneers of cinematic sound Todd Montgomery and Gayle Ellett 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. It's "no-pressure" art that does not extrovertly "sell," it casually assimilates and charms. Absolutely enchanting, a brilliant mix of interesting textures and layers of exotic acoustic timbers. A tantalizing taste of otherworldly aural delight."
www.JazzMando.com
"Just received your CD this week. I'm listening to it right now; it is wonderful. Love the acoustic sounds; and the acoustic guitar sounds superb."
Bert Lams of the California Guitar Trio
"Beautiful, picturesque acoustic instrumental music with loads of natural space and some gorgeous chord changes. Just like you're seeing the sea for the first time in 3 years on your road trip."
KIAC Radio
"Top 25 CD Of The Month" for the past four months (March, April, May, June) on ECHOES Radio!!!
www.ECHOES.org
Check it out for yourself!
NEW CD "Almeria" COST: $12.oo USD ... INCLUDES FREE SHIPPING inside USA! Add $3.00 for shipping outside USA.
These 12 instrumental tunes accurately reflect the group's warm and inviting sound. Filled with interesting arrangements and beautiful orchestration, this CD feels like a real "album", not just a simple collection of songs. You can hear some of the tunes from the CD "Almeria", on the music player above.
Digitally recorded in Malibu and Topanga.
Total time: 47 minutes.
Just use the blurry Paypal button below (I don't know WHY it is blurry, but it works and is encrypted!)...or use the CD BABY button at the top of this page...or mail us a personal check to Todd Montgomery, at our address below!
Our new CD "Almeria" is also available at:
CD-BABY
I-TUNES
WAYSIDE
ZNR
OmStream.com
SQUIDCO
KINESIS
We7.com
DjamKaret
and other fine outlets.
CONTACT FERNWOOD:
www.virb.com/Fernwood
www.myspace.com/Montgomerytsingh
topangamusic@netzero.net
P.O.Box 4276 Malibu, CALIFORNIA 90264 USA
BIOGRAPHY:
TODD MONTGOMERY began experimenting with string instruments in the fourth grade. Since then he has enjoyed learning to play such instruments as Irish bouzouki, sitar, mandolin and guitar. He spent his teen years in psychedelic rock bands until he discovered the folk music of America and Ireland. In search of deeper improvisation in an established tradition, he studied the sitar for many years with a real sitar master, Harihar Rao, who is Ravi Shankar's oldest student. He performed on Irish bouzouki and mandolin for the movie, Chasing the Dragon, The Veronica Guerin Story. When he's not playing music or playing with his wife and son, Todd can often be found surfing the waves off Malibu. You can find more information about him at: www.myspace.com/tjmontgomery
GAYLE ELLETT has been composing and producing music for over 35 years, and has performed on over 50 CDs. He has written music for numerous Film projects and TV shows, commercials, animations, computer games, and music libraries. One of his main music groups, Djam Karet, currently has 16 CDs released so far, and has received great reviews and awards in hundreds of magazines world-wide, including Rolling Stone Magazine's "Number 2 BEST Independent Album Of The Year" and Billboard Magazine's "Critic's Choice Award". Currently, you can hear his traditional Japanese Koto music on MTV, thoughout the world. When he's not busy working in the studio, Ellett can often be found flying his hang glider 5,000 meters high over the mountains of Southern California and Northern Mexico. You can find more information about him at: www.virb.com/GayleEllett and www.DjamKaret.com
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ABOUT OUR PRODUCER WAYNE YENTIS:
In the 1970's Wayne was the managing editor of Recording Engineer/Producer Magazine. While working with his longtime friend Tom Oberheim, Wayne built custom electronic modifications for Oberheim's synthesizers. Later, while working for his own company, he invented and produced the Clavitar, a guitar-style keyboard controller for synthesizers. Wayne has personally designed and built custom electronic instruments for: Pink Floyd, Frank Zappa, Supertramp, Toto, Herbie Hancock, Lee Ritenour, Joe Zawinul, George Duke, Patrick Moraz, Gary Wright, Tommy Mars, Patrick O'Hearn, Terry Bozzio, Pablo Cruise and many others. FERNWOOD feels very fortunate to have him as a friend, and his help has been greatly appreciated!
NEW FILM MUSIC by Fernwood
"Agnan-Agnan Dreams", a film by Ron Dayoc, of the Philippines
Music by Fernwood, Uwang Ahada, and other local Philippino musicians
"BIOWALL 451", a film by Vittorio Ferrara.
Music by Fernwood
