Forest Sun (from the album Follow the Love

Forest Sun (from the album Follow the Love available as a self-release)  (by Brian Rock)
Singer Songwriter extraordinaire, Forest Sun, shines on his tenth album, Follow the Love. Like fellow Indie artists Josh Ritter and Drew Holcomb, Forest Sun expands the boundaries of traditional Folk. On this outing, he explores the Country side of Folk including Bluegrass, Piedmont Blues, and Cajun.
“Lose Your Mind Rag” epitomizes the joyful tone of this April Fool’s Day release. Combining Piedmont Blues and a touch of Ragtime, Forest Sun sings ‘if you wanna save your soul, you’re gonna have to lose your mind’. Pointing out the human follies of ignorance and arrogance that promise to fix all of our problems and end up creating something worse, Forest Sun quips, ‘I know you like to think a lot, I like you better when you’re not’. As the album title suggests, the road to enlightenment is through the heart, not the mind.
Speaking of which, the title song is a lilting, Bluegrass-tinged celebration of love in all its forms. Mandolin strains help convey the lightness that comes only from opening your heart. “Wildflowers” continues the mandolin flavored FolkGrass as he compares his love to a beautiful flower. “That Other Shore” starts off with traditional Piedmont Blues tones then segues into a Dixieland trombone jubilee as he sings of the joy of meeting loved ones on life’s other side. Building on simple Folk chords, Forrest sun adds a diverse array of musical styles that he has mastered through his global travels. Notes of Cajun spice infuse the joyous “Will You Come with Me Where I Go?” as Hawaiian guitar strains add a tropical ambiance to “Colours”. A subtle Celtic rhythm permeates the haunting FolkGrass of “Magpie” and “Take Me Home” incorporates Paul Simon-style World music syncopations. Forest Sun even works in some Jimmie Rogers-style Country Blues yodels in “Katie Lee”. Throughout all these songs beats the heart of a poet gently calling us to follow our better angels. In the tender ballad “Embers”, for instance, Forest Sun sings, ‘forgive yourself your latest folly, we all sometimes are led astray’. Hearkening back to his message to follow your heart and release your mind, he continues, ‘don’t waste your love on foolish shadows that cannot love you in return’. And if you’re confused about where you’re going or what your goal is, Forest Sun gently reminds us, ‘all you need, you already have’. It's always a joy to listen to the music of a virtuoso composer or to meditate on the words of an accomplished poet; Forest Sun is that rare artist who is both. (by Brian Rock)
For more information and purchase options, please visit the Forest Sun website

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