Weirdo. What a magnificently peculiar word. One of those words that sounds stranger the more you say it. Also, one of those words that is bandied about as an insult but more often than not can be worn as a badge of honour. Anyone that has had the word casually thrown at them (usually by tracksuit & baseball cap wearing identikit neds) because of the way they dress, the way they style their hair or the music they listen to will know what I mean. On this more-ish pop-tastic album Carla J Easton is claiming back the word for all the weirdos out there.
Compelling Electro-Indie-Pop
The album gets its official release this Friday (28th August). But like anyone else who pre-ordered the vinyl, I’ve been in a fortunate select group that received their records early. So I’ve been able to spin this delicious slab of irresistibly compelling electro-indie-pop to my heart’s content. The fact that the half ‘n’ half raspberry/white vinyl reminds me of Drumstick Squashies heightens the anticipation of that saccharine high that the addictive rush of perfectly formed synth pop gems will give me.
Carla’s fabulously unique and occasionally unearthly vocal is a perfect foil to the pulsating beats and vibrating rhythms. Such is the often richly hypnotic and luxuriant intensity and depth of the driving melodies, as I sit with my headphones on, I could be anywhere. The rest of the world fades away. I’m transported to another plain, opulent and lush in its imagined colours and contrast. Far away from the drab greyness that 2020 has become.
Layer upon layer of sumptuous textures
From the opening of Get Lost with its stilted intro of vacillating keys adding thumping beats and deeply resonant vibrating synth I do metaphorically Get Lost – in the music. Heart So Hard beats into life and ascends into an epic earworm of a chorus. A pattern emerges as every track builds and soars into the ether, layer upon layer of sumptuous textures delight the senses. Musically, this album is pure escapism in its purest form, to me it is a perfect pop record.
Thorns
Despite the joyful nature of the music across the album there are some deep and serious lyrics here. The album ends on a monumental high with the broodingly affecting Thorns, “I’m the thorn in your side…” repeats Carla as the track atmospherically hums to its conclusion. A massive thumbs up to all who contributed to this record, including collaborations from rapper Solareye (also of Stanley Odd fame) on Waves That Fall, and the commanding clout of the title track with Carla reclaiming the intended slur and featuring the talents of the magnificent Stina of Honeyblood fame.
To end where I started, for Carla provides the interesting history and background of the word weirdo on the cover of the LP. All power to all the weirdos out there. Don’t ever change. Stay Weird.
Carla J Easton – Bandcamp – Facebook
Out on Friday on Olive Grove Records