Lo Carmen & The Great Beyond: Transatlantic Light (Album Review)
Reviewed by Harry Kaplan
I have described that feeling in the past when I listen to music for the first time and it appeals to my senses all at once. It doesn’t require a warm up period to grow on me. From the first listen, I know I love it and will continue to love it far into the future. That is the way I felt the first time I heard Transatlantic Light by Lo Carmen & The Great Beyond. Complete ear candy. The beautiful vocals, the noisy guitars that completely compliment the vocals and the perfect rhythm from the drums and bass. Without getting too verbose, Transatlantic Light is what I would say is 100% in my wheelhouse. I didn’t even mention yet that she worked with two rock and roll deities on this project, Lo’s father Peter Head and Robyn Hitchcock.
Elements of many genres are floating through this entire release, most notably country, rock and roll, and some late 80s/early 90s alternative music. This release definitely has traces of Mazzy Star, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and PJ Harvey. But it doesn’t stop there, it successfully bridges the gap between music from the 80s and 90s and firmly plants its tree right smack dab in the middle of current day.
I took a big bite right out of the middle of this release and chose to spotlight the longest track on the album, Epic Encounter. This melancholy number checks all the boxes of perfection. Gorgeous high octave vocals, noisy guitars, and a flawless rhythm section. This is a slow burning fire in the fireplace. Not the kind that rages on and quickly burns out, but the fire that burns steady and evenly throughout the night. There is a small build up in this tune, but it mainly travels at an even, well-spaced tempo that remains consistent throughout the entire 7 minutes and 19 seconds. This is the shortest 7 minutes of my life. So short, in fact, that I had to hit rewind a couple of times. It still didn’t completely quench my thirst, but I felt a need to move on and continue exploring this release.
Another weakness of mine is some down-home honky tonk piano. Transatlantic Light delivers in spades with the pristine track Swing Or Fall. Peter Head tickles the ivories so expertly on this track, you would easily mistake his playing for someone in Buck Owens’ band. Another song that has a good pace throughout. I don’t know if I have the command of the English language to properly describe just how beautiful this track is. When Lo hits her high notes and she is accompanied by that perfect sad piano, it makes me weak in the knees and causes the hair on my arms to stand on end.
The lead track of this collection entitled, Fix Your Heart Or Die is a warning that everyone should heed. If you don’t adhere, you can’t blame Lo Carmen. She is trying to warn us that heart health is extremely important. This applies literally as well as metaphorically.
I feel a bit guilty not exploring the other five tracks on this review but I have to exhibit a little self-control. You will all just have to listen to the rest of the album to discover the remainder of its beauty and complexities. It’s definitely worth the 39 minute time investment. One of the top releases in 2024.
Listen and buy Transatlantic Light here