Pilgrim Song Review

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Pilgrim Song ReviewKEN TOTUSHEK
Pilgrim Song
Graceworks Music (2001)
Featuring the artist playing an assortment of acoustic guitars, as well as percussion, drums, bass and mandolin (and on one cut, synth strings), Ken Totushek's CD, Pilgrim Song, is a most pleasant and enjoyable way to spend seventy minutes. The songs on this album unwind at a leisurely pace, yet are also varied in emotional impact, musical approach and tempo; the "leisurely pace" is more indicative of a mellow vibe that seems to run through the recording - nothing here is designed to get your blood racing too fast. Whether he is playing just guitar (sometimes overdubbing two kinds of acoustic guitars on a single track - one part playing lead and the other harmony) or accompanying himself on drums, bass or percussion, he shows a deft touch with both his primary instrument and enough virtuosity on the others that I had to recheck the liner notes to make sure it was just him.
With seventy minutes of music spread over fifteen cuts, it's difficult to select favorites on this well-performed and friendly album. The opening track, "Bliss!," is a smooth easy-going beginning and is followed by the gently midtempo "Twilight Serenade" on which guitar and mandolin gracefully duet. Some of the ensemble pieces here may remind you of Jamie Bonk but they're a little less adult contemporary in feel and perhaps a little more Windham Hill-ish than the Canadian artist. Among the ensemble pieces, I like "Rebound," "Pressing On," and the jazzy "Higher Heights." I'm also a fan of "Questions," which is the track where he discretely uses synth strings to great effect in creating a more somber song than others here (the cut may bring to mind Eric Tingstad - it did for me).
All but three songs here are originals. The others include a relatively staid version of "Greensleeves" (here referred to by its other title, "What Child Is This?") and two numbers penned by Jay Steele: "April Breeze" and "Rivers of My Heart." The latter is a lovely delicate piece played on solo acoustic guitar and may be the most impressionistic cut on Pilgrim Song. The former begins with environmental sounds (birds, running water) and has a pastoral quasi-Renaissance feel to it (just a smidgen of ole England perhaps?).
The only misstep on the album comes on the final cut, " On Eagle's Wings," which is also the only vocal cut. There's nothing particularly bad about it, although I think Totushek is a much better guitarist than singer - he strains a bit to hit some notes. The lyrics are adapted from a passage in the Bible (Isaiah 40:31 per the liner notes), and I'll have to admit my anti-bias here (I'm not much for incorporating Biblical references in a contemporary vein). The song begins as rather low-key but the bridge section contains what may be the most rousing music on the album, which served to confuse me a bit and I found it ill-conceived, given the song's inspiration. However, since it's the last track and the song is not something I felt I had to hit the "skip" button during, I have no problem heartily recommending Pilgrim Song. After all, as I have stated many times before, it's the rare album that contains nothing but excellent tracks. If the only thing I can find to say bad about this CD is that I didn't like the last song, whereas the first fourteen tracks are all excellent acoustic guitar instrumentals, I would hope that lovers of guitar/small ensemble new acoustic/new age music will give this album some well-deserved attention.
(As a curious aside, this final track also contains an "inner" hidden song. About a minute after you think the track is over - at the 8:30 mark - a whole new musical theme is struck up - that of a uptempo rural bayou-like piece, full of good cheer, followed later by a sprightly mandolin section - neither of which, of course, bears no resemblance to the actual "song" itself, and also having no vocals. I'm not sure what prompted Totushek to do this sly bit of trickery; maybe it's just meant as a secret bonus or as a curiosity - but if you buy the CD, make sure you allow this last track to play even after you hear silence).
As a final sidenote, and without meaning to endorse it only from this perspective, Ken is donating proceeds from sales of this album to various relief efforts for victims of the September 11th attacks.
review by Bill BinkelmanPilgrim Song OverviewAn acoustic guitar instrumental CD like few others. With 15 original songs (over 70 minutes) performed by the artist in a blend of solo fingerstyle, jazz, classical and folk styles, the music is uplifting, relaxing, and inspiring. [-]Easy Listening

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