EP Review – CarnyMusic
CarnyMusic is the name San Francisco-based multi-intrumentalist, singer and songwriter Mike Carnahan gives to his latest project. A four-song, 18 minute set, this self-titled EP features somber, melancholy textures on “Riptide.” The spare funereal drum and insistent, folky acoustic guitar provide backing for Carnahan’s faraway vocal; some carefully-added sonic elements (keening and ghostly guitar lines, for example) add a haunted vibe. Carnahan’s overdubbed vocal harmonies add sophistication and finish. If you like what you hear on “Riptide,” you may be pleased to discover three more tunes very much like it; if you’re looking for variety, you may well come away slightly disappointed. There’s a Fleet Foxes feel to “Start Another Week,” and “Close your Eyes” is even more haunted than the opening track, but overall, CarnyMusic suffers from its slightly one-dimensional approach to songcraft. If you like what Carnahan has on offer—and there are many reason you should—CarnyMusic represents a potentially rewarding (if brief) aural experience. If not, then, well, it doesn’t.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.