Flying Carpets - Barking Dogs And Motorcars
I was recently connected with a musical duo from Argentina who informed me that their style was leaning on “Americana”. That seemed like a bizarre style to follow, hailing from Argentina, but I was immediately intrigued. So what did I do? I listened to their latest album ‘Barking Dogs And Motor Cars’ over and over again, somewhat dumbfounded by the “Americana” within. Swept Up dedicated an episode to a few of their songs which you can check out right HERE. But to the album…let me take you on a magic carpet ride.
‘Where My Memories Live’ is a somber start to the album in a strangely uplifting and inspiring way. The guitar solo adds just the right gravitas to the song and this is indeed a powerful intro to the whole production, though the Americana is not evident yet by any means.
It does, however, ‘Take Me To The Place’ and continues us on the somber journey through the album. There is an interesting Beatles / Oasis vibe to this particular track and the backing section of strings really play the emotional card on this one.
Now, ‘Do You Really Wanna Know How I Feel’? Well, with the addition of this tune, it truly seems that this album is a relationship journey, or perhaps the self-induced musical therapy that can take place after a relationship. This piece is the introduction to the true Americana feel that Flying Carpets enjoys pushing out there. The harmonica and lap steel really ham it up in an uplifting way while, lyrically, the track is a sort of rhetorical blast of emotion in a post-mortem sort of way.
Even though there is ‘A Light That Never Comes’, we invite you to imagine “Zombie” by The Cranberries for the opening of this track. It’s the exact same chords, at the outset, and it even kicks into a grungy guitar rhythm with some additional and truly 90’s vibe that I can’t get enough of. It might not carry the same weight as “Zombie”, but this mellowed 90’s ballad is certainly not a shining light by any stretch of the imagination. Perhaps this is all about an unrequited love; the light that never comes.
Something I will certainly hold in my memory is the enjoyably repetitive ‘Hold Me In Your Memory’. I love the repetition in this classic case of Americana. It allows the tune to stick in the listeners’ mind and makes it a tune everyone can join in on. Even if it’s a bittersweet bit of music, it still is a great song for everyone to play around with harmonies on. You’ll certainly hold this one in your memory.
‘When My Time Comes Down’ I’ll still be listening to this tune. This is a great piece of folk that really reminds me of the sort of music we might hear on the east coast of Canada. (Maybe Joel Plaskett should cover this!?) This is a beautiful ballad that I just wish was longer and maybe had an instrumental run of the verse and chorus to really get people deeper into the vibe.
People may ask: ‘Why Can’t I Be Like The Wind’? and this takes us right back to the British wave of punk. A great example of early 90’s light punk. Maybe some Violent Femmes or The Clash coming in. This song is all about someone wishing they could move on…simple and wonderfully relatable.
‘Were You Ever Mine’? is a real question many ask day in and day out, for sure. We get some Americana a la Springsteen and Petty here, it seems. The aftermath of a relationship is always trying, in one way or another. The joy of this band is that they can package such a simple, relatable subject in a good groove that people can easily rock out to while they’re going through whatever it may be that they’re going through.
‘Mary Anne’! We have a name now! And Mary Anne “fucked [him] up so bad”. If that doesn’t say everything we need to know…”you sure know how to break a man”. What a crushing song.
I don’t know how many times I’ve heard people say ‘If I Ever Change’…Hell, I’ve said it to myself often enough. Well, we really get the goods on Mary Anne in this tune. I love that this album has such a cohesive story to follow. And even standing alone, each song speaks for itself. This piece is a great and sullen rock ballad. I love the guitar work and prominent bass. The lyrics are straightforward and the vocals are so damn downtrodden and at this point in the album devoid of all innocence. This is one of my favourite pieces…which might have to appear on an upcoming episode of Swept Up…
Flying Carpets…’You Put It Clear’. We get bookends with this piece in that it almost exactly follows ‘Take Me To The Place’ but it follows more of a major progression -and that is so fucking cool! I love that this album is a complete saga ; a whole story of heartbreak with very clever composition. This is so cool! I love the uplifting, yet depressing, yet bright new beginning that this final track sunsets the album with.
I have to recommend Flying Carpets to everyone. Check them out right HERE and definitely get into their new album ‘Barking Dogs And Motor Cars’!
