Artist: Arno Carstens
Title: Wonderful Wild
Label: Sony
Genre: Pop
Bitrate: 194kbit av.
Time: 00:50:09
Size: 73.46 mb
Rip Date: 2010-03-25
Str Date: 2010-04-26
01. Dreamer 4:10
02. Emergency 3:49
03. Heartbreak Monday 3:35
04. Soldiers Shine 4:15
05. Note Of Bliss 3:46
06. Wonderful Wild 5:23
07. Perfect Day 4:37
08. Spoil It With A Kiss 3:10
09. Play The Game 3:56
10. Avalanche 5:19
11. Sunrise 4:27
12. Too Many Tomorrows 3:42
Release Notes:
Barring the surprisingly commercial turn of Another Universe's title
track, which shot Arno Carstens from niched Springbok Nude Girls sound
to hummable road trip territory, he was never one to walk the same road
as everyone else.
This well-produced solo international charm offensive changes all that,
as he steps into the dreaded catch-all phrase of adult contemporary
(AC) music.
The album was produced by legendary British producer Youth (who
produced from The Verve's Urban Hymns to Crowded House to Dido), and it
does fit into the broad description of AC: ballad heavy, vocal-based,
rock-tinged music.
Didactic explanations aside, the album totally showcases Carsten's rich
and distinct voice to good effect, supported by lush melodies and
radio-friendly edits.
Close listening to the first single, Dreamer, puts it into vintage Arno
territory. While the melody is upbeat, the lyrics suggest a
relationship that is now but a memory.
The nostalgia of the title track, Wonderful Wild, is wistful (make a
fire before the cold, soft music in the back, that'll eventually get
louder), making it perfect material for a Stellenbosch wine farm advert
... not that it's cheesy.
It's easily the musically strongest track with its acoustic folk sound
displaying Carsten's unique voice and range to great effect.
Perfect Day also allows the voice to shine, building up to an echoing
coda calling to mind some of the softer Nudies moments, while Play the
Game certainly shows that he has indeed done so.
Now, if he'd only do something about the Little Lord Fauntleroy look on
the CD cover... it's not wonderfully wild at all!
sire@hush.ai