Carpe Carmina: carmina charm #21

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.

XXXXIII. Go Home

With not more than three songs under their belt, liverpool-based indie rock outfit Carbon seems to have found a songwriting recipe to go by already: excitingly evolving and dashing tonal vitality is coupled with glowing vocal spirit - and that in a charmingly commanding way; proven to be a successful formula for the trio, as second single 'Fire' has been picked up by BBC Introducing Merseyside in 2015, new tune 'Go Home' goes the same musical direction in terms of melodic momentum yet brings something new to the table too (feisty instrumental fuzz en masse), which is why it caught carpe carmina's eye (ear even) eventually. Highlighting confident and shiny vocals - while vehement and vivavious guitar waves, in collaboration with vibrant drum beats and groovy bass gravity, create an instrumental chemistry easy to fall for - the listener can't help but to be hooked and ready to dive headlong into the song's anthemically edgy and thrilling sound. The full Carbon experience, however, dear readers, will only come with the release of their debut EP in the making (it better be out soon!), the potential of the three-piece though can be witnessed at gigs present time (check on their forthcoming shows here and don't hesitate to see them live).

Reach out & listen to Carbon ...

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XXXXIV. Head Hung Low

February 6th marked the end of an era; OC darlings, The Devious Means performed their last show ever at The Wayfarer in Costa Mesa. After 6 years of music-making and 3 releases, powerful in both narration and sound, diverse in style and dynamics (EP 'Presenting The Devious Means' (2011), EP 'Songs We All Are Singing' (2012) and subsequent full-length record 'Other Animals' (2014)), the bi-vocal indie rock force called it a day. Not devious (on contrary, approachable and charismatic), with the means though to wow the crowd time and again, the quintet supported and played alongside other local artists (e.g. this blog's favourites, Midnight Hour, and Robert Jon & the Wreck) on multiple occasions, took home the awards for 'Best Indie' (2014) and 'People's Choice' (2013) at the annual OCMAs, and made every moment as a band count - for them, fans, friends and family alike.

A group of creative minds and sonic sorcerers, coming up with compositions so easily enjoyable and electrifying, The Devious Means can look back on a striking set of songs, each of them creating an intense and alluring atmosphere on its own; 'Where You Are' so blissfully bright and stirring, 'Witmer' so moody, honest and energetically clangorous, conclusively, carpe carmina approved 'Head Hung Low', spellbinding with soulful vocal sonority and deep, dimly melodious instrumental tension.

It's a bittersweet farewell now, as Midnight Hour's BFF band drops the curtain at what certainly hasn't been their summit yet; bitter knowing the five-piece has embarked on an new, exciting musical journey with their latest offering, 'Other Animals', sweet still, since we can rest assured that the memories bound to and the music itself will remain. And that alone, allows The Devious Means to go off stage with their heads held high and with a satisfied smile playing on their lips.