Keith Woodhouse is not your average recording artist. Born and raised in England and currently residing in Totnes, Keith has spent a lifetime crafting words into weapons of introspection and rebellion. At sixty years old, with a guitar in hand and poetry in his soul, he stands as a testament to the enduring power of artistic expression against all odds. Keith’s journey is one of resilience, raw honesty, and relentless creativity. A former psychiatric patient with over four decades of songwriting experience, he began writing at fifteen and never looked back. His influences, Bob Dylan, Roy Harper, and Dylan Thomas, inform his lyrical voice but never dictate it. Keith doesn’t follow trends. He writes from instinct, emotion, and hard-earned experience. Whether reciting poetry at an open mic down the road or recording vocals in the confines of his bedroom at a care home for vulnerable adults, Keith’s creative fire has remained undiminished.
Despite the challenges of his environment, Keith turned limitation into liberation. With the help of care home manager Matt Carfrea, who holds a degree in sound recording—he recorded his debut album The Planet Who using a homemade studio rig, blending analogue warmth with digital precision. Keith Woodhouse handled all vocals and guitar work, while Matt sculpted the electronic backdrop and handled production. Together, they crafted a sound that is both raw and refined, deliberately rough around the edges yet hauntingly beautiful in its imperfections. Keith has only eight chords in his arsenal, but he wields them like a master storyteller. His work doesn’t conform to genre boxes. It is rap poetry backed by rock grit. It is a soul-bearing monologue wrapped in melody. It is the unfiltered voice of a man who has seen much, lived deeply, and refuses to be silenced.
Released on August 21, 2024, The Planet Who is a window into a fiercely original mind and a life unapologetically lived. Written in a creative whirlwind over the course of a single month, this 14-track collection is Keith Woodhouse’s full-hearted declaration of identity, vulnerability, and unshakable purpose. Created entirely within the walls of a care home, the album blends gritty realism with surreal poetry. Keith’s voice, equal parts spoken word and rhythmic incantation, drives each track with unfiltered emotion and streetwise insight. Paired with Matt Carfrea’s masterful production, the album uses experimental reverb, analog grit, and lo-fi textures to create a soundscape that is intimate yet expansive. It tells stories from behind closed doors, from the mind’s labyrinth, from love affairs lived loud and the shadows of mental health battles. This is an album that proves artistry knows no bounds, not of age, not of place, and certainly not of convention. This is Keith Woodhouse’s world. We’re just lucky to hear it.
The Planet Who Album Track List:
Razamataz:
From the very first second, Razamataz hits the ground running, there’s no slow build-up, no teasing intro. Keith Woodhouse dives straight into his performance with both the groove and vocal delivery arriving as a unified force. The track kicks off with an infectious instrumental foundation that’s subtly twisted into something more personal and theatrical. A tight, looping guitar riff meshes perfectly with a steady, confident bassline, while crisp, restrained but groovy drum beat ties everything together. It’s not flashy, but it doesn’t need to be. The production quality is clean, rich, and spatially aware, allowing each element to breathe while maintaining a tightly-knit groove. The result is an immediately immersive soundscape that feels urbane and alive.
What sets Razamataz apart is the seamless synergy between Woodhouse’s vocal delivery and the instrumentation. He doesn’t ease into the song, he commands it from the start, delivering a rapid-fire stream of rhymes, puns, and observational wit that cascade over the groove with surgical precision. His voice, almost spoken-word in tone but rhythmically fluid, becomes an extension of the music rather than a layer above it. There’s no chorus, no conventional structure, just an unrelenting, charismatic flow that rides the pocket with confidence. The instrumentation, meanwhile, never falters or overreaches; it remains a steady, hypnotic backdrop that accentuates every twist in Woodhouse’s lyrical delivery. As a listener, I was pulled instantly into a lounge-like atmosphere, cool, cerebral, slightly ironic, and effortlessly stylish. The vibe is unmistakable: Razamataz is not just a song, it’s an experience, charming, clever, and complete from the very first beat.
Psycheatrick:
Keith Woodhouse’s Psycheatrick, from The Planet Who, instantly pulls the listener into a tightly wound world of introspection and groove. Right from the start, the track establishes a magnetic bassline that struts with purpose, its funk-infused rhythm acting as the heartbeat of the song. Electric guitar chords, sharp and tastefully restrained, layer in to create a sense of tension without overwhelming the core groove. The drum work is crisp and anchored, guiding the track forward with a steady hand. What stands out is the confidence in the arrangement, there’s no excess here, just deliberate, controlled musical elements that make room for Woodhouse’s message. The production quality is superb, allowing every note to occupy its own space in the mix while keeping the track grounded in an earthy, analog warmth. It’s the kind of opening that doesn’t just ask you to listen, it demands your full attention.
Vocally, Woodhouse delivers a performance that blurs the line between monologue and melody. His voice is clear and unflinching, more spoken-word than traditional singing, and it enters without hesitation, laying bare the track’s emotional core. There’s a raw vulnerability in his cadence, measured yet charged, like someone carefully balancing on the edge of revealing too much. The lyrics unfold like confessions or journal entries, infused with irony, insight, and a touch of dark humor. This lyrical approach, combined with the tight, unchanging instrumental groove, creates a mesmerizing synergy. It’s as if the music becomes a psychological space: the bassline looping like a racing thought, the guitars punctuating emotional triggers, and Woodhouse’s voice acting as the conscious narrator trying to make sense of it all. The overall atmosphere is striking, deeply human, brutally honest, and oddly comforting in its clarity. Listening to Psycheatrick feels like sitting in on someone’s therapy session, only it grooves hard enough to make you nod your head while you’re processing the weight of their words.
Cigarettes:
Keith Woodhouse’s Cigarettes, from his album The Planet Who, ignites with a raw, electrifying energy that immediately commands attention. The track launches with a Hendrix-inspired guitar riff, gritty, expressive, and laden with bluesy overtones, that sets a rebellious tone. The rhythm section follows suit, delivering a bottom-heavy beat that anchors the song with a sense of urgency and drive. This fusion of classic rock elements with a modern edge creates a soundscape that’s both nostalgic and fresh, inviting listeners into a world where tradition meets innovation.
Woodhouse’s vocal delivery is both confrontational and introspective, weaving through the instrumentation with a spoken-word style that feels more like a candid confession than a conventional performance. His voice, raw and unfiltered, adds a layer of authenticity to the track, making the listener feel as though they’re privy to his innermost thoughts. The interplay between his vocals and the instrumentation is seamless; the guitar riffs respond to his words, the drums accentuate his pauses, creating a dynamic conversation within the music itself. The high-quality production ensures that each element, vocals, guitar, bass, drums, retains its distinct character while contributing to a cohesive whole. This meticulous balance results in an atmosphere that’s both intense and immersive, reflecting the complexities of the themes explored in the song.
From the outset, Cigarettes envelops the listener in a gritty, emotionally charged ambiance. The track’s sonic landscape evokes a sense of raw vulnerability, mirroring the personal and societal struggles associated with its titular subject. The fusion of expressive instrumentation and heartfelt vocals crafts an experience that’s as thought-provoking as it is sonically compelling. In Cigarettes, Woodhouse doesn’t just present a song; he offers a visceral journey through sound and sentiment, leaving a lasting impression that resonates well beyond the final note.
Keith on Guitar:
Keith Woodhouse’s Keith on Guitar, the closing track of The Planet Who, is a minimalist, acoustic instrumental that serves as a poignant finale to the album’s eclectic journey. At just over two minutes, the piece is a stripped-down, lo-fi recording featuring solely Woodhouse and his guitar. The track opens with a gentle, unadorned strumming pattern, immediately creating an intimate atmosphere that contrasts with the more complex arrangements found earlier in the album. The simplicity of the composition allows the nuances of Woodhouse’s playing to shine, highlighting his ability to convey emotion without the need for elaborate production.
The absence of vocals in Keith on Guitar shifts the focus entirely to the instrumentation, inviting listeners to engage with the music on a more personal level. The acoustic guitar’s warm tones and subtle dynamics evoke a sense of introspection and closure, effectively encapsulating the themes explored throughout the album. The lo-fi quality of the recording adds an element of authenticity, making the listener feel as though they are in the room with Woodhouse as he plays. This raw, unfiltered approach reinforces the album’s overarching narrative of vulnerability and self-expression.
In the context of The Planet Who, Keith on Guitar functions as a reflective coda, offering a moment of calm after the emotional and sonic intensity of the preceding tracks. It underscores Woodhouse’s versatility as a musician, demonstrating that his artistry extends beyond lyrical storytelling to encompass evocative instrumental expression. The track’s understated beauty and sincerity leave a lasting impression, providing a fitting end to an album characterized by its depth and authenticity.
The Planet Who stands as a striking testament to Keith Woodhouse’s unwavering dedication to authentic storytelling through music. This album transcends typical genre boundaries, blending rap poetry, rock, and experimental soundscapes into a cohesive, deeply personal narrative that invites listeners into the complex world of its creator. Each track reveals layers of vulnerability, insight, and raw emotion, making the listening experience both challenging and profoundly rewarding. Far from background music, this album demands attention and reflection, offering a unique perspective shaped by decades of life’s highs and lows. For those who appreciate lyrical richness, inventive sound design, and music that speaks to the human condition with honesty and grit, The Planet Who is an essential listen. It comes highly recommended for anyone seeking art that is as much a journey of the soul as it is a sonic experience.
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