The new album from Trinity Roots, Citizen, is like a journey. Each listener will have their own experience, taking something different from the voyage. Some will appreciate the broad musical palette at play, losing themselves in the melting pot of influences and references. Others will hone in on the rich lyrical content, the questions, the metaphors, and the meanings within.
The music presented is at times vibrant, driving, edgy, and yet at others delicate, fragile, and nebulous. The composition and musicianship on this album is second to none. Though the album is diverse, Citizen has a collective cohesion, like a dialogue evoked by a rich tapestry of tones.
The album is a waka of sorts: a vessel shaped from a living entity, carved into form and function. It urges us to look closely at ourselves, our families, and our communities, and at how we interact. It questions our priorities, our direction, and our leadership. It encourages us to consider change. It points the finger at greed, deception, hypocrisy, and apathy, yet manages to remain ever hopeful.
Citizen is a story spoken with a familiar tongue, but is a more amibitious tale than told before, as a quick glance over the album credits will reveal.
Warren Maxwell leads a deft vocal combination with the care and skill of an experienced skipper. His contribution extends to a range instruments, much like band member Ben Lemi, whose varied offerings proclaim a talent that extends far beyond a single instrument.
Rio Hemopo is the understated hero of the low end, carrying the heavy load, providing the stability for others to explore new territories. Alongside rich vocal harmonies, a variety of melted guitar chords and meditative arpeggios take the fore, and are augmented by a range of stellar guest musicians.
