Chris Murphy's Songs from the Trees Brings Folk Traditions Into Fresh Territory

Chris Murphy has never been easy to pin down, and that's part of what makes his music interesting. The Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has built a career blending Americana, folk, jazz, classical and world music, and his latest album, Songs from the Trees, keeps that adventurous streak alive.

This time Murphy teams up with British folk favourite Seth Lakeman, who produces and performs across the album. Rather than steering the music in a completely different direction, Lakeman helps expand Murphy's songwriting with fiddle, banjo, mandolin and guitar, giving these seven tracks a distinctly British folk flavour while still leaving plenty of room for Murphy's own style.

The setting probably helped too. The album was recorded in a 16th century monastery near Dartmoor in Plymouth, and while you don't need to know that before listening, it's easy to hear why Murphy spoke so highly of the experience. The music has an open, atmospheric quality that suits the stories he tells.

Murphy has cited artists like Neil Young, Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan as inspirations, and you can hear echoes of those influences in both the songwriting and vocal delivery. At the same time, Songs from the Trees doesn't spend its time looking backwards. World music rhythms, traditional folk melodies and even touches of sea shanty all find their way into the album, making it feel varied from start to finish.

The title track is a great introduction, setting the mood with layered instrumentation and a warm, organic sound. Elsewhere, songs including "300 Days at Sea", "Bitter Tea" and "Clean Break" continue to explore different musical colours without losing the thread that ties the album together. Nothing feels forced, and the collaboration between Murphy, Lakeman and engineer Josiah J. Manning comes across as a genuine meeting of ideas rather than a showcase for any one player.

At just seven songs, Songs from the Trees is a concise listen, but it covers plenty of ground. Murphy's songwriting remains the heart of the record, while Lakeman's contributions add depth and texture throughout. The result is an album that should appeal to fans of contemporary folk as much as listeners who enjoy Americana with a broader musical outlook.

If you've followed Chris Murphy's work before, you'll find plenty to enjoy here. If this is your first introduction, Songs from the Trees is a very good place to start. It feels like three musicians enjoying the freedom to explore different traditions while keeping the songs front and centre.