Restless is Canadian musician Keith Kitchen’s third full length album (released November 2012) that is a brilliantly crafted folk/soft rock listening experience with shades of blues and country from cover to cover lending a compelling, yearning (restless) sensibility.

Kitchen opens the eleven song set with the warm, close and hopeful strains of Cozy Apartment setting the tone for the listening and presenting us with the beginning of one couple’s journey together and all the dreams that come with that.

Next comes Restless, the title track of the album inspired by St. Augustine who wrote, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You.”  The folk/rock feeling speeds the pace up and brightens Kitchen’s voice making it a stand out though it feels older somehow, likely due to the reverent inspiration of Augustine.

Picture of Jesus is a cover originally by Ben Harper. The songs that Kitchen chooses to cover like Harper’s are well cared for and fit perfectly into the tone of the album. The harmonizing on this song is beautiful.

Dark Days follows and surprises the listener with a hopeful sound not as dark as the title suggests…which is likely the point. By this place in the album listeners will discern a wonderful, layered sound led by Kitchen’s soulful voice and clear, well-played acoustic guitar.

Grace is a cover originally by Michael Knott and another great example of a warm layering of music in which the vocal and acoustic guitar takes the lead while the keyboards and other instrumentation fill in, compliment and surround.

Walk in the Way is another prophetic call to give of ourselves in a way that we may have forgotten (or at least hidden from). Quick and clear there is nothing simple about the music which again shows a great level of attention to detail. Instruments weave into one another and compliment rather than copy. The song shows craftsmanship where the beat plays a larger role bringing the drums to the foreground with the guitar and other instruments playing a more supporting role. Lyrically and rhythmically the most complex of the music on the album it brings to mind Michael W. Smith but it’s all Kitchen from beginning to end.

The House with the Sunflowers is starts slow but when the chorus hits you are hooked. Kitchen lifts his voice higher in this song than any other and makes you want more. This song is a very honest song providing that ever present hope that pervades the set.

Down There by the Train is a brilliant cover of the original by Tom Waits. Kitchen’s rendition of this classic Waits’ song is something to be heard. A standout on the album Kitchen manages to channel Wait’s soulful depth while making the song entirely his own. When he sings “and there’s room for the forsaken if you’re there on time, you’ll be washed of all your sins and all of your crimes” I literally had goose bumps. I don’t think it is a coincidence that this song is in the mix because its themes of hope, grace, mercy and forgiveness are central to the entire album. Perfectly executed this song sits among my favorites.

I’m Not the Guy (Burning Bush Lament) lyrically is simple yet in its profoundness it rises above all else. The song is poignant and personal recalling a modern Moses and may in some ways speak not only of the individual but pretty much the church as a whole. A challenging and clever song that gently holds a mirror up to the listener. Powerful. My favorite.

Dweller by a Dark Stream is a cover written originally by Bruce Cockburn and presents us with great, strong vocals, a powerful theme of transformation and strong images of the human condition. Kitchen’s voice is relentlessly hopeful and uplifting even when singing of dark things.

We Come is a cover by Jim Coegart that closes the album as a reminder of the point of the whole musical journey and wraps you in worship. Strong and inviting, Kitchen offers We Come to his audience like a gift.

Overall the album is rife with themes of accountability and acts as a gentle prod to one who is asleep or maybe hiding, waiting out the world. Hope is woven like a bright silver thread throughout every song and the listener is always aware of the source of this light. The entire album is gently prophetic…pointing out human foibles and struggles but lovingly and never judgmental or harsh.

Restless is a beautiful and strong work of a craftsman who clearly painstakingly assembled every piece with care. Nothing feels rushed and thrown together.

Front to back this album is a lesson in how to produce, from the brilliant sound to the cover art, liner notes and CD silkscreen bearing images that suggest a journey and the need to move forward. There is nothing shoddy or lacking in Restless but rather I am convinced the listener will come away well satisfied with the whole experience.

At $20 the album is well worth the investment and I highly recommend it; to order visit www.keithkitchenmusic.com.