Carbon Memory – Tourist (2022)
With their latest EP Tourist, Carbon Memory is telling us exactly what they are all about, while offering a tantalising hint of what the future might bring. Across the five tracks, they move from ethereal shoegaze to addictive alternative rock, before sliding into some funky synth jams. Continuing their innovative sound, the EP has you sinking into crooner vibes, before rocking out to some pulsing guitars, only to head back down into haunting broodiness.
Twirling between nostalgia and optimism, the band transports you into a cinematic look at the world and some of the struggles we face daily. Since the band came together in 2018, they have released a range of EPs and singles that take listeners across the musical spectrum. Their innovative and experimental stylings have landed them an exclusive premiere in Canadian Beats and features in Toronto Guardian and other major publications.
The EP opens with the hazy, shoegaze flows of ‘Distance’ that warble and float to life. These hazy flows are met by a strumming guitar that brings a touch of rock to the rather ethereal soundscape. The addition of the guitars slowly swings the movement of the melody, before the vocals rise from the movement. There is an almost spacy feeling to the vocals as they call out to you from the stratosphere. As the vocals draw you into the stratosphere with them, they bring some seriously thought-provoking lyrics to your brain. The band will have you really considering how you reached where you are while riding the dynamic movements of the melody. It is a wonderful opening to the EP that offers a taste of what is to come, but at the same time, doesn’t prepare you for the genre swings.
‘The Only One’ uses a heavier alternative rock vibe to push you into a slightly retro melody. There is a Brit-rock feeling to the turns of the drums and guitars as they intertwine to form a rising dance of sound. The vocals haze out over the music taking the Brit-rock vibes further, while adding a little something uniquely Carbon Memory to the track. The overlapping drums and guitars are picked up by a piano line that draws them into an unstoppable current. This is a song that sweeps you off your feet and takes you on a journey whether you want to go or not. There is a softness to the track that gentles the vocals and the emotive tugs of the lyrics. The current of sound drops in the second section of the track for a feeling of slow awakening before the rock guitar’s pulse once again.
Things take a synth turn for ‘Closure’ and its twilight feeling. Through the warble and vibration of the synths, you are drawn into a dark night where the only light comes from the moon. The vocals are a lighter organic touch against the warbles of the synths, bringing a burst of clear cool air to the humid night of the melody. As the track progresses, a really funky line rises up and will have you moving to its rhythm before you can stop yourself. There is a warmth to the funky tones that meets the humidity of the synths for a summer night vibe. This song is packed with an outstanding interplay of elements that brings new textures to the sound. The heat of the synths is tempered by the cool air of the vocals, only for both of them to be churned up by the funky movements. It is a really engaging song that you can easily listen to again and again.
‘Tonight’ opens with an easy roll of drums that meet a rather haunting tone. Through the opening lines, you are drawn into a strange dream that holds you suspended between the dream world and reality. The vocals pick up some of the dreamy energy with a hazy edge that reaches out and makes it feel like they would slide through your fingers if you tried to capture them. Through the lyrics, you are drawn into a recurring dream that takes you back to the start when you think it is coming to an end. As with the other track, there is a dynamic movement to the melody as you ride the ups and downs brought about by the instrumentation. The vocals slide over this movement with an endless feeling that you get rather lost in.
The EP comes to a close with piano-driven ‘Rumours’ that offers a crooner touch to the collection. The piano line that opens the track has a rather sombre and melancholic feeling to it that carries an undeniable heaviness. There is a slow-burn vibe to the track as the vocals slowly draw you into the story of the lyrics. As the piano line moves to lighter tones, there is a building feeling that creates a ball of anticipation in your chest. The burst of the drums sinks into a slow tapping forward momentum, adding to the building feeling. It is a really powerful ballad that is packed with emotions that weave their way around the lyrics.
Carbon Memory are showcasing their versatility and addictive melodics through the track of Tourist while leaving you with a ball of emotion and a lot to think about. Each track draws on different musical elements to highlight the tale of the lyrics and the emotions infused into each note. By the end of the EP, you will have taken a wonderfully cinematic journey through daily struggles tinged with hope and optimism for the future.
Find out more about Carbon Memory on their website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
