Artists | Issues | CD Reviews | Interviews | Concert Reviews | DVD/Video Reviews | Book Reviews | Who We Are | Staff | Home
 

Carrousel

27 rue de mi'chelle

Review by Larry Toering

This is an interesting combination of styles that really keeps grounded in progressive folk, but contains elements such as psychedelic and romantic music. I find it to be more prog than not when it comes down to it. In fact, there is so much going on that it can't be pinned down to one category, so it gets the prog  tag here. No matter how you slice it, this is an enormously satisfying disc with plenty to offer, especially if you like mellow music with tons of light wit and dark mood, as this is very much both, with a spooky essence to top it.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2012  Volume 6 at lulu.com/strangesound.

Track by Track Review
Idee Fixe

This first track is an instrumental that begins with a lovely piano motif that sort of flows like Chopin. It works into a more complex arrangement that builds into a spooky feeling before a lighter piano fades away. It's a great introduction for what's to come, and does very well in setting the scene.

14
This is where everything takes off and it begins to promise quite the musical novella to come. It starts off slow and builds into a crashing mid section before ending on an overall mellow note.
You Only Love Yourself
An ever commanding piece of music with a title that doesn't give much away, what an interestingly fantastic number it is. Many changes and textures make this abstract tune what it is - chock full of soundscapes.
Moonlight
The folk nature of things is rounded up in a big way on this mesmerizing track that is completely epic in its overall delivery. This is amazing to say the least, and likely one of the highlights on the disc. Think “melancholy,” but think “hypnotically melancholy” and that might begin to describe this.
Where Do We Go from Here
This is a gripping number as well, with even more spooky vibes as it tells a story about looking back together. The atmospheric texture is most contagious as it keeps the whole tune grounded in the entire creative plot.
In Her Tomb by the Sounding Sea
Another instrumental with an outdoorsy feel to it, there’s really nothing more going on to describe than that. Once again, this contains some lovely piano work.
Take Me Now
This is one of the more spookier tracks, with chimes and a lot of whispering in a sort of chanting style. Things definitely become more serious at this point, and really start to guide the listener further into the big picture as it goes.
(15)

I find this to be overall one of the more compelling pieces of music on offer here, with another ghostly approach that sounds like something out of a dream. A lot of time is spent building things up to a subtle message at the end, and it somehow does take you back. Once it's over, another visit is surely in order.

27 Rue De Mi'chelle
Closing with the title track isn't exactly the norm on any kind of album, but it has been done. In this case perhaps they saved the best impression of the entire concept for last. The arrangement is slightly more complex than the other three epic proportion tracks here. I find it to also be at least slightly the best track on this interesting album, as it turns out to be a fantastic release.

 

 
Return to the
Carrousel Artist Page
Artists Directory
 
Google

   Creative Commons License
   This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.

    © 2024 Music Street Journal                                                                           Site design and programming by Studio Fyra, Inc./Beetcafe.com