By: David Savage
Justin Vernon may have been the
one in the spotlight of Bon Iver, but there was another member of the band with
an extensive amount of talent. Sean Carey was the percussionist/vocalist in Bon
Iver. On April 1st, Sean Carey (under the moniker name ‘S. Carey’)
released his first studio album, Range of
Light. S. Carey did have another album, All
We Grow, but it was more of a home recording. The new record was recorded at Justin Vernon’s studio, April Base
in Fall Creek, Wisconsin. The title, Range
of Light, comes from the way Sean Carey’s hero, naturalist John Muir,
referred to the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in California. In the sleeve of
the vinyl, Carey writes that this record explores the beauties of nature, the
way John Muir did. Even Sean Carey’s instagram (@scareypics) has photos
dedicated for each of the tracks off the new record, looking like a
transcendental journey.
S. Carey has released an album (All We Grow) and an EP (Hoyas), but never a studio record. Range of Light opens up with the track
“Glass/Film”, featuring an array of instruments. The track features piano,
vibes, banjo, and some subtle horns. Carey is a multi-instrumentalist, dipping
his hands in as many instruments as he can on this record. In Bon Iver, he was
known behind the drums, but by himself the piano is his instrument of choice.
Knowing that Sean Carey is a man
of nature makes the music he creates even more beautiful. He paints vast images
of nature with the sound of his music. The first single off the record,
“Fire-scene”, is a wondrous song with intertwining piano and smooth
finger-picked acoustic guitar. The lyrics further amplify the scene he his
describing as “Reddest hue/ remind you of you/ clinging love and falling true”.
It makes sense why Bon Iver was such a spectacular band, because there was
endless creative talent in the group, and Carey’s talent is displayed in Range of Light.
Range of Light is soft and mellower than his previous work, but it’s
such a soothing pallet cleanser. Songs like “Alpenglow” feel the way spring
feels after a long winter, like the one we’ve had. The piano melody in
“Alpenglow” is infectious in an interesting, soul-warming way. As mentioned,
Justin Vernon did some work on this album as well, with some instrumentation as
well as backing vocals. Easily detected on “Crown the Pines” is Justin Vernon’s
signature falsetto, but you’ll find it tucked into other tracks, such as
“Fleeting Light” and “Glass/Film”.
As a “debut” album goes, S.
Carey pulls off a sweet sounding record to be heard out and about exploring the
world. Range of Light explores “the
light and dark in everything” according to Carey, and I couldn’t agree more.
This record gives a taste of various instruments all in a calm soothing style,
meshed with Carey’s vivid lyricism to set the scene for listeners. The final
track, “Neverending Fountain, wraps up the album wonderfully, with pacing
violin and a lullaby-like harp. Range of
Light is an absolute success by S. Carey.
Favorite Tracks: “Alpenglow”, “Fire-Scene”,
and “Crown the Pines”
No comments:
Post a Comment