caroline- caroline (February 25, 2022)

UK eight-piece caroline’s eponymous debut album often cascades with force like an avalanche, squalling and rumbling on the edge of all-out collapse. At other points they slip back into impossibly fragile moments of quiet – a simple bassline or a rattle of snare the only sound amid a dark sea of silence. caroline know exactly the right balance between restraint and release. These songs are expansive and emotive pieces, their rich palette drawing on a mixture of choral singing, Midwestern emo and O’Malley and Llewellyn’s roots in Appalachian folk.

“Sometimes things sound much better when there’s empty space,” says Llewellyn. “Sometimes you might populate [a song] with too many things and forget that an element on its own is enough.” Elsewhere on the record the band have employed a collage-like technique, combining snippets of lo-fi recordings from a myriad of different locations – a barn in France, the members’ bedrooms and living rooms, the atmospheric swimming pool in which they also filmed sublime live sessions for ‘Dark blue’ and ‘Skydiving onto the library roof’ – with more traditional group sessions at the Total Refreshment Centre and their studio in Peckham.

The growth that began as a scrappy guitar band above a pub many years ago is still continuing. caroline’s astounding debut album is merely the first step. -Bandcamp

 

I am insanely jacked for this record. Some of it reminds me of Skinny Fists era Godspeed You Black Emperor!

 

Very curious about this

 

I thought it was about the japanese artist

 

Wow! This was amazing

 

Definitely one of my most anticipated still. In love with all 4 singles.

 

Album Review: Caroline - 'Caroline' - The Alternative

 

I saw this band support The Microphones a few months ago. I wasn't familiar with them besides hearing a couple songs on my walk up and they completely blew me away and stole the show for me. I can't wait for this.

 

excited to check this out later

 

This band and record. Chefs kiss. One of the best of the year.

I’m only bummed that we really got 4/6 songs on the record pre release. Didn’t realize going in the first time how many of the unreleased songs were just 1-2 minute interludes.

 

Probably the record I’m most excited to listen to today.

 

ok the description of this has really caught my attention, gotta check it. what a goddamn month for music

 

This was so good.

 

this is very nice/pretty but can't help feeling it's kinda... thin? like they had 4 great songs and quickly pumped out some filler to get to album length. those 4 songs are really great though especially Natural Death, I think they could really do something special in the future if they fleshed-out their ideas a little more

 

Kinda agree

 

I think I like this a lot but I do agree that it seems to dissipate into the ether a little too often

 

To me they feel like a “I can’t wait to hear their next record” band. There are some amazing ideas here, and I have full faith the next record is their time to shine.

 

King of baffling comments to me honestly. This is such a great album on its own without having to worry about what comes next or dismiss parts one doesn’t appreciate or comprehend as “filler”

 

yeah we definitely can't comprehend the subtle nuances of a dude playing guitar for 50 seconds. that's why we don't like them. you cracked the case

 

This record has been growing on me a lot recently.

 

i'm just getting into this.

IWR sounds like it was plucked off of Grizzly Bear's Yellow House

 

Not sure how I missed this initially but I'm really loving this. Currently listening to it at home during a full blown blizzard and it's really hitting.