Review: Erland & The Carnival
The industry’s need for a bucolic, psychedelic and at times narcotic record has never been greater. What with The Coral going quiet (although they’re in the studio apparently) and so many other bands not ticking all the boxes some of us, namely me, were getting slightly bored.
I mean, over the winter months there hasn’t been much to excite and rejuvenate those of us tired of alternative-folk-rock. Perhaps then, a fellow from the remote islands of Orkney and his all-playing-and-sometimes-singing-a-bit Carnival will tickle your fancy. (Whether or not you’ll let him anywhere near your fancy is irrelevant at this stage)
Erland and the Carnival are the band I’m on about and for the past week my ears have been drawn like a great big pair of well, ears really, to their wonderfully dark and yet joyous self-titled debut record.
Debut it may be but Erland Cooper’s band mates aren’t industry virgins. Guitarist Simon Tong (The Verve, The Good, The Bad, The Queen) has friends in high places - GBQ band mate Damon Albarn’s Studio 13 was where this album was recorded.
Drummer David Nock has had experience with The Fireman, Paul McCartney and producer Youth’s ambient project; and it was Youth who introduced Erland to Tong.
Having moved to London from Scottish island Orkney, Erland sang at Tong’s What The Folk club night in Portobello Road, and it was here that Youth did the introductions. “It wasn’t a regular folk night where people are quiet and stroke their chin,” says Tong. “It was a more raucous affair where the acts as many as 15 a night had to quieten a noisy baying audience by being good. Erland definitely got people to shut up and listen.”
So, the band is formed. What next? The following months were fairly untraditional to say the least: “they’ve played gigs at miniature railway stations and their debut EP was individually re-recorded for each of its limited run, meaning no two copies are the same.” But something went right, because the product is one dazzling and gorgeous sound. And yeah, on the surface it’s easy to draw comparisons with The Coral, but after further listening, Erland offers something richer and fuller-sounding.
“There is a 1930’s book called The Circus of Dr Lao where a wild, fantastical travelling circus comes to a fictional small American mid west town causing social chaos and upsetting the usual way of life of the towns inhabitants, then eventually it leaves and moves on with the town in tatters.” says Tong, “I see that as a good metaphor for us as a band to aim for.” Whether they prevail or not (and whether leaving a town in tatters is something you want to bring up in wake of recent events) Erland and the Carnival deserves to be heard and if you can find their Radcliffe and Maconie sessions on the net then all the better.
Erland and The Carnival’s eponymous album is released on the 25th January on Full Time Hobby/Static Caravan.
