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For as long as he can remember, Ryan Montbleaus been a seeker. From the jungles of Peru to the volcanoes of Hawaii, from the beaches of Costa Rica to the streets of Brooklyn, from the backseat of a 16-passenger van to backstage at Carnegie Hall, the acclaimed singer/songwriter has spent much of his life crisscrossing the globe on a perpetual search for meaning, purpose, and understanding. Its a quest thats guided him both personally and professionally over the years, one thats come to define not only his music, but his very sense of self. And yet, listening to Montbleaus ambitious new multi-part album, Wood, Fire, Water, and Air, there is a profound sense of satisfaction in sitting still, a recognition that perhaps all those spiritual treasures hes been chasing for so long were closer than he thought. My whole adult life has been this journey of trying to figure out where home is, Montbleau reflects. I think Ive finally found it.Set to roll out across four distinct EPs, Wood, Fire, Water, and Air marks Montbleaus first studio release since putting down permanent roots in Burlington, Vermont, where he recently purchased a house after more than two decades of living on the road. While much of the material here was written in fits and starts over the past several years, its clear that the desire for stability was very much on Montbleaus mind even before he settled on the banks of Lake Champlain, and the songs reflect a maturity and self-awareness that can only come from the difficult work of rigorous self-examination. Montbleau is quick to credit therapy for his growth of late, but he sings about more than just himself here, mixing sly humor and deep revelations as he meditates on the ties that bind all of us perfectly imperfect humans together. Taken as a whole, its a broad, insightful collection balancing boisterous rock and roll energy with intimate folk introspection, a sprawling, magnetic record all about listening, letting go, and living life. Ive been through a lot over these past few years, says Montbleau, and Ive experienced some monumental shifts in my perspective. The only way for me to write about it was to just get as honest and vulnerable as I could.I honestly didnt know what this project was going to be for a very long time, he explains. All I knew was that I had a bunch of songs I was really excited about, and that I wanted to take a new approach to recording them.That doesnt mean the hunt for purpose and meaning is over. Ryan Montbleau will always be a seeker, and thats alright. As Wood, Fire, Water, and Air so beautifully demonstrates, sometimes the search is its own reward.
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