release date: Sep. 4, 2009
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,12]
producer: Robin Guthrie
label: Darla Records - nationality: Scotland, UK
3rd full-length solo album by Robin Guthrie following nearly 3½ years after Continental (May 2006). Three years between albums may seem like a long time but Guthrie has released several other albums in between his solo albums. In 2007 he released two albums After the Night Falls and Before the Day Breaks as collaboration works with American composer Harold Budd - both released June 11, 2007, and in 2008 he released the soundtrack album 3:19 - Bande originale du film with Guthrie's music for the 2008 feature film "3:19 Nada es casualidad" by Mexican director Dany Saadia. Also, earlier this year (May 2009), he released the collaboration album Mirrorball with British new wave and synthpop artist John Foxx (also former vocalist of Ultravox).
Carousel pretty much takes off from where his collaboration work with Harold Budd had left him: in spacious spheres of bright blue light - well-pictured in the cover art (although, that may probably be an underwater shot). It's first and foremost an ambient release without a distinct rhythm section, and Guthrie makes use of guitar-layered effects. Only on track #9 "Waiting by the Carousel", whcih probably gave name to the album title, you hear drum programming and something that brings dynamics into the picture. I'm not all that fond of this particular album, as I generally don't have a sweet tooth for new age music. It simply reeks a meditative state that only sends you to bed and echoes anything but great originality. Guthrie is still a great guitarist, but only seldom utilise this gifts to produce strong compositions.
Not recommended.
[ 👍Pitchfork 6.5 / 10, Record Collector 3 / 5 stars ]
