Range of Light is the second album from S. Carey and it is sure to take you on a soft indie ride.
Sean Carey isn’t a distant relative of Jim; he’s much cooler than that. He’s the drummer and supporting vocalist in Bon Iver. Back in 2007 he opened the show for Bon Iver’s first local show and Justin Vernon decided he would be better singing with him, rather than supporting him.
Range of Light
Opening track ‘Glass/Film’ tempts you with beautiful percussion and dizzy vocals, setting the scene for an ethereally pleasing album. ‘Alpenglow’ is all encompassing spine-tingling music at its best; like a hot shower after you’ve been caught in the rain. Whilst he croons “I was wondering if you’d be my wife / if you’d be the compass in my life” in a whispered tone, the song builds into an emotional work of art.
The record as a whole, however, is fragmented at times. You’d expect a smooth, holistic record from him but it’s more like he’s gone the long way round to get to his destination. Tracks like ‘Fleeting Light’ and ‘Crown the Pines’ give Carey a more modern feel but it comes across as disjointed. Nevertheless, Carey is great at what he does and his vocals are second to none, even Vernon.
Of course you’re going to feel the Bon Iver influence, but this is still a special journey. He could’ve been highly unimaginative with woozy vocals and big choruses but instead he’s attempted a shift, which has sadly left him a little lost.
Closing track ‘Neverending Fountain’ is all harps and chimes which makes for lovely listening but not great music. It’s a relaxing record without being boring, but Carey should probably stick to what he knows. ‘Alpenglow’ is such a highlight though; that track alone is a reason to listen.
7.5/10 for a sometimes disjointed yet cocklewarming album.
Range of Light was released on 7th April on Jagjaguwar.
