HENRIK FREISCHLADER – House In The Woods

January 2nd, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Cable Car CCR0311-39

If ‘House in The Woods’ isn’t quite a fully conceptualised album title, then Henrik Freischlader’s sense of introspection and ongoing search for a retreat offers a resonant statement of his current mindset.

The funky, smoking grooves and concise solos that rise elegantly from some well crafted intricately layered, mid-tempo works of sculptured art, also reflect the self reliance and the fierce independent streak of an artist who is very much his own man.

‘House in the Woods’ is an organic, laid back rock-blues journey where nothing is forced and feel is everything. But while it’s hard to argue with the deeply embedded grooves and intuitive interlocked playing, the essential nuances of ‘House in the Woods’ are not always immediately apparent to the untutored listener.

The fast rising Wuppertal guitarist, songwriter, producer and multi instrumentalist may be influenced by Gary Moore, but unlike his hero his potential niche lies not in climactic solo’s and incendiary shredding, but rather in a slow burning blues fuse. He prefers to take the long route home and fastidiously works towards realising his goal.

This is best evidenced on the workmanlike funky groove of ’1999′, which just before the 2:30 minute mark, suddenly ignites with a wah-wah led solo that could have come from the early 70′s Zappa guitar manual. As brief as it is incisive, the solo offers a telling glimpse of Henrik’s subtle grasp of dynamics.

Perhaps the reason for his understated style is that he realises the limitations of his warm but weary, limited vocal range, which at its best is not unlike Peter Green at his best. But while his deep rooted grooves are well suited to his vocals, some of the material labours to get beyond the pedestrian. ‘Breaking My Heart Again’ for example, is a ballad which veers too close to formulaic MOR while the dirgy ‘With The Flow’ sounds almost like a loose soundcheck jam with a call and response chorus stuck on top.

Far better is the propulsive riff led ‘Sisters’ and the waltz feel of ’2 Young Lovers’ which matches evocative lyrics with a gentle organ led arrangement. The song also benefits from rich harmonies and a wistful Knopfler style lead vocal. The refreshing sense of space, time, and restraint focuses on the sumptuous melody and makes it one of the best songs on the album. It could also offer Henrik some deserved radio play.

The closing ‘Would You Help Me’, further explores the balladic format, but with a Joe Cocker vocal. The tick-tock percussion nicely offsets some jazz tinged blues guitar phrases that alternate between subtle distortion and a crystal tone to cut a swathe through the after hours feel of the track. Not so much Gary Moore perhaps, as the enduring influence of Roy Buchanan, as Henrik fills his ‘House in the Woods’ with a real sense of feel and purpose that suggests he has more than enough in reserve to carve out his own niche. ****

Review by Pete Feenstra

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 20 October 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 22 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 28 October 2024

THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)

Featured Albums w/c 28 October 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)