|
The magic of music cannot be explained by sales charts, radio airplay, magazine covers or shiny pyramidal objects. Any attempts to fall flat in the face of reason. Then again, reason has very little to do with it either. It's a magic built upon tiny moments, where nothing but the music from a speaker connects with the ear of a listener. Maybe Michael Carpenter knows the trick. A sleight of hand, an open heart, a magic cane and a bagful of songs that will astound and amaze. All tools of the trade, that make up KINGSRDWORKS, an album full of tiny moments, delivered clear and true. If one watches closely, they might be able to catch a clue to how Carpenter makes it all look so simple. He's more than a songwriter, but a song crafter. Delivering not only the song but the sound, by fully producing the album in his own studio. His voice is stunning, developed from thousands of gigs to an ability close to his marksman level musicianship (on instruments from across the board). His new band, King's Rd, contains some of the finest players Sydney has to offer, making it look even easier. But the string that almost gives it all away, is the fact that Michael Carpenter has travelled the world, performed in front of thousands and thousands, yet still finds very little to express that's more important than his heart and his world. From ballads that are as tender as 'The One For Me', the world from his street on the country twinged 'King's Rd', to the rock 'n' roll riff-ery of 'You're So Alone', Carpenter never tries to hide what he tries to say and feel behind smoke or mirrors. It's that directness that has won Michael Carpenter fans all around the world with his previous albums for US label Not Lame (Baby - 1999, Hopefulness - 2000), his self released covers project (SOOP#1 - 2001), and his Australian compilation on Laughing Outlaw (Up Close - 2001). You couldn't get any further away without switching planets, but you couldn't get any closer than listening to his music. He's the type of musician that fans talk about by first name. Let's start to unravel what we know. We know that Carpenter is a producer of amazing abilities, handling the work of some of Sydney's best artists at his own Stagefright Studios. But it is his solo work that transforms his production into affection, both in terms of recalling the mood a flavours of his influences, but in using them to say whatever he wants. Carpenter's been making music all his life, but this is an album of many firsts. It's Michael's first with a full band behind him. It's his first album of original material for his new label in Australia and the UK, Laughing Outlaw Records. It's his first real album for the world at large, after winning over people at International Pop Overthrow in the US many times over, as well as Europe and Australia in the years since his last album proper, Hopefulness (2000). But the most important first comes from Carpenter. The game of 'pick the reference' has ended with this album, and the elements that make up the music are only half-familiar looking puzzle pieces to the whole. You could always listen to a Carpenter record and know it was him, but with KINGSRDWORKS, it could be no one else but him. The synthesis of emotional songwriting, spot on production, inspired performances, years of experience will make KINGSRDWORKS Michael Carpenter's biggest release to date. Take a trip down to King's Road and experience the tiny moments of musical magic. I'll meet you there.. Danny Yau Back to Biographies
|