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ALL ROOT ALBUMS CAN BE BOUGHT DIRECTLY FROM THE OFFICIAL ROOT WEBSITE AND CAN BE POSTED TO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD

www.rootmusic.fsnet.co.uk

© All album cover design and illustration by David Kendall

 

ROOT began as a three piece in Leicester, playing pubs, selling demos and getting local press coverage. Eventually it was time to move on to new challenges.

Having very strong progressive rock influences, I was determined to go in that direction. Realising that it was not going to be suitable for pub gigs, I decided my only option was to record my songs.

I soon found out why one-man progressive acts are so rare. How does a Singer/Guitarist now play Bass like Chris Squire/Geddy Lee/Roger Waters, Keyboards like Rick Wakeman/Tony Banks/ Rick Wright, and Drums Like Neil Peart/ Phil Collins/Alan White/Bill Bruford, while still developing as a singer and guitarist?

Dreams of Green - 1998

I was totally unprepared for the positive reaction, my first CD, Dreams of Green, got. I had not realised progressive rock was so popular or that what I had recorded would be so readily accepted.

Follow the Dawn - 1999

My second album was the result of 9 months of work, care and love to make an album I can be proud of and justify the support I have received. The big difference, this time, was knowing I could do it, but wanting to do it so much better.

Poles Apart - 2000

There are few things in life that are certain, but one thing is - progressive rock albums always seem to take a long time to make.

It is hard to know where the time goes to, but with Poles Apart, the promised delivery date (Summer 2000) came and went and on I worked. I had to be certain that this album would build on the foundations of the first two CDs but also be different and better!

The response to my first two CDs has been amazing and has helped me realise how others hear my music, which is not something that is easy to do, living so close to it.

With my Website in place I have found that there is a big world out there that is interested in progressive music and also Root. It has given me a chance to sell CDs in parts of the world that I would of thought impossible just six months ago.

As the technical side of producing albums has become more familiar to me, it has given me more time to concentrate on the heart of my music and it has been a very rewarding time.

I hope I have matched the expectations of those who have waited for this album, but I also hope that anyone new to Root can appreciate the love of music that has gone into it.

Resolution - 2003

I never expected the follow up album to Poles Apart to take over two years to complete but here is a short version of events leading up to it's release.

In January 2001, I started working on some song ideas, including early versions of 'EQUAL' and 'CHANGE'. Recording began in the Spring and continued until Summer 2001. Quite a lot of the album was recorded when catastrophe struck. A software problem meant I lost a lot of key synthesiser sounds for the songs already being worked on. A replacement keyboard was installed but the momentum was lost and the task of recreating the lost work seemed daunting.

In January 2002, I made the decision to start from scratch, with a completely new set of songs/ideas to create a fresh challenge. and possibly return to some of the abandoned songs sometime in the future.

As the album took shape it became apparent it was being influenced by several sad events that were taking place in my life. I was reminded that belief in yourself is the key. You can achieve your goals, but don't forget to take time to appreciate the things you have. If you want to climb, don't look down, and don't be put off if you slip every now and then.

As the album grew, a sense of optimism took hold and it became obvious it would be my most ambitious project to date. I had so many songs and ideas, I realised it would need to be a double album to fit it all on. It also meant it would take the remainder of 2002 and two months of 2003 to finish.

I believe that on this album I have moved more towards a defined 'ROOT' sound, obviously still influenced by the incredible musicians I have listened to over the years, but I am doing things my way.

illumination - 2005

When I recorded “Resolution” I began to define my own sound and improve as a songwriter.

With “Illumination” I had a very personal set of songs and learnt how to approach the songs as a producer would and let the emotion of the songs dictate the sound of the music.

I am very pleased with “Illumination” and the response it has received. It was a little scary recording much shorter songs than normal without knowing how they would be received by prog fans, but it has gone very well.

Wooden Hill - 2007

Opinions on my previous two albums seems to have Resolution as the more Progressive approach and illumination as the more direct melodic approach "Pop" even.

With Wooden Hill, I have attempted to draw these two lines much closer together. I wanted to keep the melodic arrangements and vocal harmonies and catchy parts, but also let the songs' arrangements expand, twist and turn.

I have also let my guitar playing take a more prominent place over the keyboards - I still consider guitar my primary instrument, even after all these years of playing keyboards. It was fun to squeeze as many sounds from the guitar and use the keyboards in a more supporting role.

I have had a lot of fun making this album

I hope it shows.