carmina charm #8

Do you know that our soul is composed of harmony? 

- Leonardo DaVinci

It's harmony that your soul and mind embraces again when listening to music. As sound surrounds you, only some melodies firmly resonate with you, get an immediate emotional response - whilst their approach is a smooth and soft one, whilst they slowly, carefully but steadily cling to you, these melodies eventually grab you with an intensity and force that overwhelms, that fully absorbs and stirs. It's these very melodies that are in chime with your mind and soul, it's music that leaves an imprint on your being and mesmerizes ... music that charms. 

XVII. Belly Of A Beast 

The liverpool born and london based singer/songwriter is a welcome guest on carpe carmina: his poetic and dreamful lyrical musings, his expressively soothing and warmly raucous vocals resonate with many, first and foremost with those who feel at home with creative and scenic, mature and mellow music mindful of buoyant vibrancy and blissful harmonies. 

Christmas giveaway & riddle fun: Wullae Wright - The Orange Line

Artwork by Wullae Wright

Christmas is here, bringing good cheer - and carpe carmina raises the christmas spirit gleefully by putting on its first giveaway. It's with deep-felt gratitude towards scottish singer/songwriter Wullae Wright that this novum on carpe carmina comes upon its audience -  however, it does so with a little twist. In order to receive a digital copy of 'The Orange Line' (2013) for free the inclined reader and listener needs to prove himself 'worthy', i. e. he/she has to solve a lyric puzzle. 7 songs of the artist's repertoire have been chosen, 5 from 'The Orange Line' (2013), 2 from previous albums/EPs, and ought to be lyrically complemented. In the right order, the marked letters reveal the answer that is required to win 1 out of 3 digital copies of 'The Orange Line' (2013). 

EP review: No One Sun - Bogota. An exciting, energetic and harmoniously rich compositional successor to the indie rock outfit's glowing debut record

It has been in late 2014 that the sun rose relentlessly for an aspiring, determined british band and approached its zenith, after the artists released two records rich in haunting harmonies and electrifying atmosphere, insistently gleaming with energy and potential for what was yet to come still, however with no setting (of the sun) in sight. It has been in 2014 also that carpe carmina was part of said band's promising musical ascent and joined No One Sun in celebration of their gig in camden. Back then 'Heads And Volleys' has been presented as a new composition, described on this very blog as one that 'captured due to rising vocals, fascinating instrumental dynamics and infectious, yet smoothly alluring melodic patterns.'. Months later 'Bogota' (EP), the rock-pop performers' second release, saw the day of light, radiating ardent and soulful music, and some time should pass yet again, for it to grace the front of carpe carmina. Now, the moment has finally come that we shall not longer hesitate but be absorbed in the bright and powerful luminiscence of dashing and dynamic indie anthems ...

Merry musical magic - soulful and subtle songs to enrich tranquil and festive days

It's the festive season, the season of shining lights and candle haze, of christmas carols and warm thoughts in the cold, of gingerbread smell imbuing the air, of snowy glamour glinting heavenly - and it's the season of ambient, heart-warming and encouraging music soaring peacefully whilst pleasing its listeners ears and soul. Music to unwind and to savour the moment. Now make yourself at home, seat yourself with a cup of hot chocolate or aromatic tea and indulge in pensive narrations and delightful harmonies ... 

Liam McClair - Time With You

The Manchester based singer/songwriter proves artistical aptitude in merging vividly beating instrumental verve and breezy, sentimental tonal tenderness once more. Dreamfully floating and placid melodies command 'Time With You' as appolonian, bracing acoustic guitar bliss blossoms and is later on complemented by dulcet piano levity and vibrant chimes zest. Liam McClair's warm and mellifluous voice breathing emotion and romantic vows with charming candor, creates an emotionally enticing listening atmosphere the audience all too readily falls for. This is a song not only to spent time with, but to savour heartily. 

carmina charm #7

Do you know that our soul is composed of harmony? 

- Leonardo DaVinci

It's harmony that your soul and mind embraces again when listening to music. As sound surrounds you, only some melodies firmly resonate with you, get an immediate emotional response - whilst their approach is a smooth and soft one, whilst they slowly, carefully but steadily cling to you, these melodies eventually grab you with an intensity and force that overwhelms, that fully absorbs and stirs. It's these very melodies that are in chime with your mind and soul, it's music that leaves an imprint on your being and mesmerizes ... music that charms. 

XIV. I Wish It Could Be Different

Single Review: Thom Morecroft - On All Night. A melodically sweeping, atmospheric and soulful musical journey commences ...

Single cover of 'On All Night' 

(photo courtesy of Dave Walker Photograpy)

... and as all good journeys, this one begins with a song.

carpe carmina playlist II: Dramatic and atmospheric rock extravaganza

Allusondrugs

Sunset Yellow

Allusondrugs (photo courtesy of James Akbar Photography)

With a provocative, distorted and bold but charmingly melodious pop-esque signature, Allusondrugs incite a battle of favour - either the listener is overwhelmed and hesitant, albeit fascinated or he has completely lost himself in the noisily irritating, experimental and fiercely staggering compositional patterns the five leeds based grunge-rockers establish. Due to its harsh, boisterous and raw, then again elusively calm, faintly echoing nature, it might be music made not to everyone's liking yet the band undoubtly offers a vast spectrum of divergently accentuated songs which allows their audience to get eccentrically enthusiastic about some at least, which makes those who cherish hard-hitting, edgy and rebellious musicanship fall in love with all profoundly. 

Gig Review & Interview: Sofa Concerts & In bed with Ali Ingle and Will Robert. Two english men museful in songwriting, charming with words and alluring in compositional implementation

There's no place like home - the cozy, cordial atmosphere, the intimate interior, the tender memories bound to it, the eventful, amiable stories one's own four walls could tell. Inimitably charming and soothing, comforting and inviting, your own, neatly, prettily customized place woos with blissful warmth and appeal. 

When mellow, mellifluous melodies rise, when ambient sonic serenades and alluring acoustic waves imbue the air and people are spellbound, it's the magic of music, its irresistibly engaging essence that makes people unwind, that makes them enjoy themselves, as well as its haunting tonal sonority that resonates (with them), that makes them feel at home - eventually. In the very moment. It bestows a feel of beloging, of ease and contentment, the audience willingly embraces, indulges in - ...

carmina charm #6

Do you know that our soul is composed of harmony? 

- Leonardo DaVinci

It's harmony that your soul and mind embraces again when listening to music. As sound surrounds you, only some melodies firmly resonate with you, get an immediate emotional response - whilst their approach is a smooth and soft one, whilst they slowly, carefully but steadily cling to you, these melodies eventually grab you with an intensity and force that overwhelms, that fully absorbs and stirs. It's these very melodies that are in chime with your mind and soul, it's music that leaves an imprint on your being and mesmerizes ... music that charms. 

XII. Taped Off The Radio 

The Ragamuffins aka the multi-instrumental perky pop phenomena [David John Jaggs (vocalist/
guitarist), Sam Parry (keyboardist/saxophonist/backing vocalist), Florin Ciurariu (trumpet player/backing vocalist),
Xavier Winton (drummer/percussionist), Thomas Fripp (trumpet player/guitarist) & Alex Pearson (bass guitarist)]

Song Review: 'Goose' & 'Skank'. Getting down to the funk - No Hot Ashes blare out sassy, dim and fizzy rock groove with aplomb

1,2,3,4! .. Furious. Dashing. Progressive. Picking up pace. Dynamically and forcefully. Swirling with infectious fuss. With boisterous roar. With severe, fiercely stinging stridency.  1 - ... 2 - ... 3 - ... 4 - ...  gentle and soft sonic serenades unfurl in a low-key and modest, in a balanced and smooth fashion, dwell on calm and mild melodic moments of alluring depth and inciting, tensely flaring expectancy for a fulminant finish, a final frantic, vivacious clash or an elusive, 'open', ergo suspensefully resonant, haunting even, closure. 

Your cup of tea: Ambient, poignant and soulful music best enjoyed with a cup of tea and in cosy atmosphere

carpe carmina playlist I - Ambience 

Suno Deko - Bluets 

Artist: Atlanta based experimental-pop project Suno Deko,
 also known as David Courtright

Song: 'Bluets' - experimental-pop magic 

carmina charm #5

Do you know that our soul is composed of harmony? 

- Leonardo DaVinci

It's harmony that your soul and mind embraces again when listening to music. As sound surrounds you, only some melodies firmly resonate with you, get an immediate emotional response - whilst their approach is a smooth and soft one, whilst they slowly, carefully but steadily cling to you, these melodies eventually grab you with an intensity and force that overwhelms, that fully absorbs and stirs. It's these very melodies that are in chime with your mind and soul, it's music that leaves an imprint on your being and mesmerizes ... music that charms. 

IX. We All Need Love

Liverpool based singers/songwriters Stephen Langstaff and Esco Williams both spellbind their audiences with emotive, evocative songwriting and skilful, soulful music-making: whilst Langstaff's musicianship depends on balmy and warm vocalism, whilst his songs enchant with a characteristically sensitive, modest staging, it's Williams' rich and velvet vocal range that grips with glowing and melancholic exuberance, it's his energetic presence on stage that radiates with irresistibly infectious intensity - together these two gifted vocalists make magical music making happen by launching a harmonious, sweeping and dynamically expansive compositional vortex of absorbing and empyrean allure ... 

Album review: Analogue Wave - Casimir. Venturous virtuosi in the field of enigmatic, electrifying and experimental electronic music

It's a grave, incisive, yet again breezy and effervescent melodic concurrence of bluesy ambience and energetic ecletic electronic layers, an intense interplay between provocative, conflicting stimulus and thrilling force of attraction: dreamy and atmospheric melodies, electrifying and elusive sound effects coalesce, are distinctively marked by both fierily and smoothly longing, expressive and dark vocalism, eventually expand and explore a new field in sound .... it's (A)n.(a)l.(o)g.(ue) W.(a)v.(e). 

The new guys in town ...

There is a fine line between paying tribute to a 'golden' music era, drawing from music history and erring on the side of caution by mimicing styles of music, proven to be auspicious, accessible ones - every self-professed and/or highly-praised artist learns that either in the early years of his musicianship or in the course of his musical ambition. The path of composing, of compositonal approach each musician chooses to follow, is determined by his self-proclaimed aspiration, to either fit the mould, to conform or to stand out by dictating the terms of music-making on his own, by veturing and embracing an eventful and surprising musical journey. There lies a stony road ahead for those musicians trying to settle for an original, refreshing sound, for those musicians trying to find their own sound in the first place. A lot is at stake, dreams, visions, inspiriation, reception, the haunt is a worthwhile, rewarding one nonetheless, as it is an undeniably laudable, incentive endeavour to diverge from, to alter the norm, the music alpha that is homophone, omnipresent indie rock, satiating due its bleak abundance, sometimes still surprisingly keen, stimulant and reverberative in leadership. 

Video Spotlight: Luke Cusato - Great Beyond. A heartfelt, haunting and museful ballad

'We're in the car with love and pain' ... (footage
by Dave Turley Photography) 

Impressions, of people, of your enviroment pass you by. A brief glance, you are pushed forward, you push forward. Eager to arrive, to feel, to notice, truthfully and thoroughly. Sceneries commute. Swiftly. You take a deep breath and focus. You understand, realize what matters, people, near and dear to you. You see your destination ahead, notice what surrounds you, picture what is yet to come. Fractions of what is, what has been, what might be, everything coalesces, sweeps away. Shades of darkness and light, fast pace, you roam, search and hope. You reach out, imagine, wish to come to a stand. Together. Breathing out, you step into the light, into the unknown. Silence. Looming motion. You feel an undescribable longing inside, hear a gentle voice full of promise whisper: And we fight for the great beyond, and we fight for the great beyond. And we don't hold back and we can't hold on ... - you take a step forward, pause, ponder, move ...

Album review: TiTORS iNSiGNiA - Get Yourself A Name ... and TiTORS iNSiGNiA's is pronounced confident, fiercely clashing yet charmingly soulful rock'n'roll

'The reign of rock'n'roll on my radio' has subsided with years gone by, faces its impending doom as an endless seemingly stream of pseudo-creative, quasi-quaint, feigned refreshing electronic abundance, pop glitter and shallowness emerges, seizes the scepter of radio airplay. This is no bitter, wrongful lament, it's facing and coping with reality. People search for distraction and amusement in songs - and one can't blame them - are hooked on sweeping, glowing melodies and catchy lyrics, on cheerful and virulent, energetic compositional light-weight. It's not a matter of 'growing-on' and 'growing-fond-of' music anymore, it's instant bond or rejection; tonal attractivity rises from vivid and dynamic music blends - and there are indeed some inspiringly bracing and keen synergies of ecletic musical genres - but what has happened to the pure, unaltered and rousing kind, specifically to the infectious and powerful glory of confident and commanding, of pushy, sassy and demanding rock swagger?

carmina charm #4

Do you know that our soul is composed of harmony? 

- Leonardo DaVinci

It's harmony that your soul and mind embraces again when listening to music. As sound surrounds you, only some melodies firmly resonate with you, get an immediate emotional response - whilst their approach is a smooth and soft one, whilst they slowly, carefully but steadily cling to you, these melodies eventually grab you with an intensity and force that overwhelms, that fully absorbs and stirs. It's these very melodies that are in chime with your mind and soul, it's music that leaves an imprint on your being and mesmerizes ... music that charms. 

VI. Not Your Kind

Album review: High/Low - Stuck In A Void. A diamond in the rough?! Raw yet refined rock music of trenchant and vehemently blazing echo

A diamond in the rough. Raw at core, unpolished but dimly glinting with potential, the potential to glare radiantly once cut, to engulf its observer in a lustrous and luminous glow, destined to either absorb the warm and mild beams of light, to glisten brightly from within or to reflect the dreamily prancing, luminescent rays, imbuing the air with dazzingly brilliant, lucid gleam. In the process of flourishing, the all along pretious and multifarious gemstone unveils a versatile spectrum of glamour and colour, of clarity and light, divergent and accentuated specular facets and shades emerge step by step, layer by layer. All it took, to realize the diamond's natural, eclectic beauty, was time for it to evolve, was devotion and heart's blood of its polisher, was patience and attention of  its beholder ... 

EP review: Henry Maybury - Lost Days. A hopeful, lively moreover soulful, placid and sentimental soundscape to wander through and get lost in

'I do music for the passion that it brings' - an auspicious remark that sees fruition whilst listening to Henry Maybury's debut EP 'Lost Days': quaint and ensouled nonetheless blithely flaring chords are struck, softly fainting polyphonic features accentuate a wistful, expressive and sensitive vocal lead which ushers through a symphonious and vibrantly pulsating, soothing music scenery of museful, reflective and sincere lyricism. The Shrewsbury based singer/songwriter courageously opens up to his audience as he lets his soulful music do the speaking for him - honesty and heart in songwriting is revealed as Maybury's listeners embark on a scenic and emotional musical journey, as his listeners indulge in haunting, empathic and heart-rending narrations of a 21 year old musician who strives to make his audience find truth, comfort and affinity in his compositions ....

EP review: Liam McClair - Honey. A mellifluous and soothing jar of heartfelt and heart-rending compositions

'How do I enchant this girl?' - Liam McClair has already charmed his listeners, and not only his female ones, with lyrical love vows and candid contemplations about belonging and destination in life, mesmerized them with his smooth and soothing melodies, with his husky, mellow and sensitive vocals. As Liam's second EP 'Honey' is at the edge of being released, the Manchester based singer/songwriter enriches the mildly and calmly flowing, reserved yet subtle acoustic soundscape that graces his debut record 'How' by installing a more versatile instrumental setting, one that comes in as a harmonic and natural evolvement for what has once solely been a mininmalist yet strongly stirring cocord of balmy, breathy vocal lead and wispy, appolonian guitar guidance. 

No alternative but rock - 4 incisively striking pieces of rock glory: 2 EPs. 1 album. 1 song.

Broken Witt Rebels 

  Birmingham based 4 piece blues-infused alternative rock outfit

       Danny Core (vocals/rhythm guitar) - 

Luke Davis - (vocals/bass) - 

     James Tranter (vocals/lead guitar) - 

Anthony Byrne (drums)

Debut EP release: 'This Town Belongs To Me'
(release Dec. 20th 2013)

Cautiously deployed, ambient and misty riffage introduces the listener to 'All Worn Out' - the blithe instrumental opening though grows rapidly stronger when dashing, ponderous drum beats and a sonorously cracking bass line are installed, is deepened in sound by complemental guitar layers which oscillate in an ardent and pacy manner. Raucous and cocky vocals, crowned by a bold and rough timbral finish, temporarily adapt a whimsical and blurry colour, whilst being framed by a forceful instrumental setting. Within the distantly echoing vocal episode the song languishes, is indeed 'all worn out' in tonal tinge, smoulders with intensity still ... - to finally flare up in a thrilling stream of sound, as impetuous and hazy riffage, electrifying drum beats clash and swirl, as a grungy, brash vocal glimmer irrupts, if only briefly, but with vehemence. 

EP review: Ali Ingle - A Life Unlike Yours. Imaginative and heart-rending, still excitingly blithe "magical music making"

A haunting yet elusive symphony echoes, lures with mellifluous quality, casts a spell with thrilling and emotive tonal intensity. Cheerful and blithe, atmospheric and exuberant melodies take turns - once resfreshingly upbeat, then soulfully imbuing and silky in sound - unfold their overwhelming charm, led by smoothly rasping and sentimental, soon glowing vocals - it's a natural, harmonic still staggering symbiosis of poignant and multifarious musical features, a mesmerizing melodic blend that captures vehemently and without delay. 'Oh, I, I, I could never let you go' ....

carmina charm #3

Do you know that our soul is composed of harmony? 

- Leonardo DaVinci

It's harmony that your soul and mind embraces again when listening to music. As sound surrounds you, only some melodies firmly resonate with you, get an immediate emotional response - whilst their approach is a smooth and soft one, whilst they slowly, carefully but steadily cling to you, these melodies eventually grab you with an intensity and force that overwhelms, that fully absorbs and stirs. It's these very melodies that are in chime with your mind and soul, it's music that leaves an imprint on your being and mesmerizes ... music that charms. 

V. Back To The Start

Video Spotlight: Martin Luke Brown - Nostalgia. A haunting, ambient and shining ballad

Do you ever feel nostalgia? 

There lies something inevitably beautiful in remembrance - long gone moments flare before our very eyes, awoken by a picture, a scent or a melody, a sound solely, elusive nonetheless gripping, intensely relived glimpses of the past come upon us, are cordially embraced. The bygone scenery takes us in again, lures with  engaging promises, promises which have either come to and been crowned by fruition or still lay in and live on in this memory. With nostalgia, melancholia maybe, with delight most certainly we picture what once has been: a colourful and atmospheric vision unfolds, yet it is prone to blur, to pale unless we colour it anew, focus on the memory's centerpiece and delve in from there. On this emotional and inspiring journey we might be flattered by pretence, euphemize pieces of the mental puzzle as we live through and reflect it in the here and now, as we find our peace of mind in mending details to make it a placid, perfect picture, a harmonic vision of sweet bliss and lightheartedness we can derive strength from for the current adversities and commotions in our lifes.  However, even if our 'look back' is illusionary, an embellished and serene version of memory, there is a genuine core we can identify - it's what makes us believe in opportunities yet to come, it's what makes us envision what still lies ahead of us, makes us ponder what moments have, if this very moment we called back to mind has defined our way, makes us eventually believe in creating cherished moments to return to in the long run, to nostalgically indulge in, only to come out with regained energy, prospect and hope. 

Interview with the bedroom hour - a band with vision and ambition who creates music with passion and soul

Rousing and atmospheric anthem-smiths the bedroom hour 'sat together' with carpe carmina and took time to answer some questions about their debut album and its making, about live show and pledging experiences, about their street team and music preferences ....

What becomes apparent in this interview, is that the band composes music from the heart and with great sentiment, performs with infectious passion and with soul. What also clearly shows, is that the West London based quintet and those who cherish, are fond of the their songs, those who support their music, have grown to be a family over the years - and this run of events surely is no surprising one, as it is the love for genuine and heartfelt, poignant and electrifying compositions that connects them all! 

Live music is coming to your living room ...

The tingling anticpation when the first chord is struck, the tense thrill when the chorus rises along with the haunting vocals of a musician only a short distance away from you, the imbuing tonal echo when the song reaches its peak, grows to be an almost roaring, a rousing and absolutely absorbing crescendo, the intense vibrancy when vehement vocals permeat the room, melt smoothly, adapt a more sensitive colour and merge in, enrich a sweeping and alluring instrumentation - it's right there where an artist's music making is crowned, blossoms into its full potential. On stage and in front of an audience, when his music resonates with passion and verve, also strongly and poignantly with its listeners.

Album review: The Fireflys - Embers of The Autumn // Song review: The Fireflys - Release/Repeat. Glowing, atmospheric and sentimental rock music that sets the house on fire

Pure and natural. Artless and genuine. With its inimitable sentiment, its engaging honesty and warmth in sound, acoustic music strikes a chord in us. It reaches the hindmost corners of our mind, imbues each fibre of our heart and soul with euphonious melodies, unfolds atmospherically whilst its poignant and heartfelt tonal spirit evokes a tense atmosphere per se, whilst its natural and harmonic arrangement preludes to a story yet to be told within the music's vocal, lyrical guise. Acoustic compositions commonly come in with a minimalist yet expressive, impressive even, melodic conception, merge smooth but passionate, energetic, often guitar-driven, components to create an inspiring and unaltered sound. A sound that stimulates and sparks one's senses and imagination …

carmina charm #2

Do you know that our soul is composed of harmony? 

- Leonardo DaVinci

It's harmony that your soul and mind embraces again when listening to music. As sound surrounds you, only some melodies firmly resonate with you, get an immediate emotional response - whilst their approach is a smooth and soft one, whilst they slowly, carefully but steadily cling to you, these melodies eventually grab you with an intensity and force that overwhelms, that fully absorbs and stirs. It's these very melodies that are in chime with your mind and soul, it's music that leaves an imprint on your being and mesmerizes ... music that charms. 

III. Higher Laws