Kategorie: CD-Reviews | Genre: Artrock | Heft: Jahrgang 2013, eclipsed Nr. 151 / 6-2013 | VÖ-Jahr: 2013 | Wertung: 8/10, Album des Monats | Label: Elektrohasch | Autor: BSV
Mid-May 2013: The Carpet homepage refers only with a few black letters on a white background to Facebook and Soundcloud, plus an e-mail address, three concert dates (one of them already over) and the price for the album. That's all. Simple and simple. But exactly this album is not simple and simple. "Elysian Pleasures" is what it's called. It really is heavenly joy, because it is the pure joy of playing that bounces against you here. It is an amalgamation of so many different styles and elements that one can only take off one's hat in amazement. Especially because the mixture seems so unobtrusive and natural, almost fallen from the sky. Henry Fool recently took a similar approach with "Men Singing". Botanica, too, is equally eclectic. The Notwist wander similarly experimentally between pop, jazz and avant-garde. But Carpet are different. Who are Carpet anyway? The band was founded in 2009 by Maximilian Stephan from Augsburg. In the meantime it has grown into a quartet whose instruments include clarinet, mellotron, xylophone, accordion as well as various exotic percussion and wind instruments (played by guest musicians) in addition to the usual rock utensils. Carpet have created "Elysian Pleasures" on their own. Only mixing and mastering were in foreign hands. In view of the quality of the album and the sudden appearance of the band in the music scene, the term "Wunderkinder" (miracle children) is becoming more and more popular, as was the case with Konstantin Gropper and his band Get Well Soon a few years ago. Nothing is left out: Dreampop à la Mercury Rev (in opener and title song), playful elegance like Joe Jackson, then crashing guitars ("Nearly Four"), again and again jazzy trumpet or guitar solos (e.g. "Man Changing The Atoms", "Smoke Signals"). The organ can also be used. The eight tracks master the interplay of dreamy indulgence and dramatic turmoil. Here a synthesizer like a Minimoog, there a flugelhorn. Here excited rock in opposition ("Birds Nest") like at Univers Zéro, there relaxed to let drift. The album resembles a soundtrack to a film that constantly changes genres: from comedy to horror film to social drama (especially in the 13-minute "For The Love Of Bokeh"). One song is as beautiful as another. With all this arranging, the group also succeeds in creating catchy melodies and grooves. And she manages to do the same with her homepage.
Top track: For The Love Of Bokeh
