It is undeniable that The Soundcarriers carry distinct 1960s elements to their sound. To adapt the title of Jon Savage’s excellent book about the period, they reflect the time the decade exploded. ‘Through Other Reflections’ is a cosmopolitan collection brimming with sublime chamber pop melodies twinned with multiple esoteric influences such as Tropicalia, Middle Eastern psychedelic Jazz/Funk and French Library sounds. They represents how psychedelia should sound, thoroughly mind-expanding and without a hint of the turgid riffs and drawn-out guitar solos of some exponents of the genre.
From the opening bars of ‘City Was’, there is a comforting sense that everything is in place: expanding organs, buzzing guitars, Adam Cann’s economic drums and the hyper-cool melodies of chanteuses Leonore Wheatley and Dorian Conway. It suggests a continuity with its 2022 predecessor, ‘Wilds’. However, over the following ten tracks, the album stretches in a variety of directions, exemplified by ‘Always’ which opens a different gateway with its hazy melodies, detuned guitars, French organ and twirling flutes.
‘Comet 4’ showcases flamboyant percussion and sci-fi bossa nova harmonies, the vocals are soothing while the organ repeats with urgency. It would fit nicely onto the soundtrack of a dystopian film. There are definite elements of Broadcast (probably their closest musical contemporary in giving 60s stylings a contemporary sheen) to ‘Behind The Fire’ in its glowing organs, glorious harmonies and echoing drums. ‘Feel The Way’ starts all experimental, tinkling and atonal before soothing vocals come in and almost distract from some fraught and extravagant percussive patterns, squawking clarinets and dub-like echoes. This runs straight into ‘Sonya’s Lament’, a short instrumental with the word ‘cinematic’ stamped right through it, although clearly of the late-night curio type.
With its “ooh ooh oohs”, ‘Already Over’ sees The Soundcarriers firmly back in pop territory, there is an almost ecstatic thrill running through its harmonies, garage guitar and organs. ‘What We Found’ has a brilliant shift as the chorus harmonies come in, closely pursued by flutes.
The album does have a political edge suggesting a desire to escape from harsh realities to something more bucolic, even within a cityscape. It is at its most explicit on ‘With Us For Now’ and its lines, “You just live from this land / suck the blood while you can” show a contempt for contemporary neo-liberal morals or lack thereof, the beauty of the harmonies delivered through gritted teeth while the organ could be auditioning to play the ‘Tales of the Unexpected’ theme tune. While writing this review, my notes are filled with references to stunning melodies and they show no signs of abating by the tenth track, ‘Wider Arcs’, its harmonies like a refreshing cold drink on a hot summer’s day. Closing track, ‘The Return’, shows no let-up in its detail with a Cluster-like experimental ambience combined with fluttering flutes, organs, enchanting vocals and percussive flourishes.
Throughout ‘Through Other Reflections’, The Soundcarriers deploy a colourful palette of rich and dynamic instrumentation, a thorough understanding of light and shade, all propelled by some complex rhythmic patterns. It all makes for a thrilling combination.
The Soundcarriers: Through Other Reflections – Out 16th August 2024 (Phosphonic)
I was editor of the long-running fanzine, Plane Truth, and have subsequently written for a number of publications. While the zine was known for championing the most angular independent sounds, performing in recent years with a community samba percussion band helped to broaden my tastes so that in 2021 I am far more likely to be celebrating an eclectic mix of sounds and enthusing about Made Kuti, Anthony Joseph, Little Simz and the Soul Jazz Cuban compilations as well as Pom Poko and Richard Dawson.
