Mike Berman - In the Woods (2026)

This set is Mike’s 3rd full-length LP & touches upon basic song themes such as love, loss, regret, longing & emotions. Through this Mike has crafted his repertoire with folk, California folk-rock, roots-oriented music, all with his own distinctive storytelling voice.

The 11 paths to follow In the Woods (Dropped Oct 23/Tanager Records/43:11) were produced by Ed Tree (bass/electric & slide guitars/harmonium/mellotron/synth) & recorded in CA & Washington state. The opener “Honey That Was Me,” has the satisfying beauty in its melody that is mindful of songs Bobby Goldsboro would do (even though Goldsboro had a hit with a song called “Honey” in 1968). My point isn’t that — it’s Mike Berman’s voice that’s pensive, precise, & sincere of tone like Goldsboro. He doesn’t have an easy listening or middle-of-the-road voice but a singer-songwriter’s projection with delicacy.

Singers like England’s late David McWilliams (“Marlena,” “There’s No Lock Upon My Door” “Can I Get There By Candlelight?”) painted songs the way Mike does (“Hospital For the Brokenhearted”). The words aren’t the knock-off lyrics of pop songs but little vignettes with some baroque-pop strings added the way the Left Banke did with “Walk Away, Renee,” & “Pretty Ballerina.”

Berman adds light poetry to his lyrics, adds finger-picking acoustic guitar, and sings with good technique. Rockier is “Hold Back The Sea” with its Al Stewart phrasing (“The Year of the Cat,” “Genie on a Tabletop,” “Time Passages”). The tune has just enough drama, arranged pristinely & sung with a good storyteller voice. It’s rougher than the first songs, but there’s an underlining beauty to it — the lead guitar is tantalizing & melodic.

Berman (baritone vocals/harmonica/piano/acoustic & nylon-string guitars/12-string electric guitar/synth) mixes up the lead instruments in each song with skill. His impressions in my ear are mostly British troubadours. Done well. “Coop the Hawk” opens with Mark Indictor’s violin & it’s arranged with a gentle UK folk song melodic precision ala the late Clifford T. Ward (“Wherewithal” & “Gaye”). Berman has this skill & ability. Each tune in his arsenal has its melodic fervor like Ward. Many tunes are memorable.