Carnation is a sweet sounding and thrilling third album from Daughn Gibson, a man who has a superb voice in the Bryan Ferry, Matt Berninger mode. Like Father John Misty (Josh Tillman), Daughn is a drummer now out front of the stage.
A soothing voice on a rich album of reverb guitars, strings, bass and choral ambiance is an absolute charm on the ears and a great stepping stone on Daughn’s ‘Me Moan’ that was released in 2013 and started to see a critical acceptance for his music.
‘Shattered you Through’ was the obvious single, a hip shaker, bass line driven song from the off but, as the title indicates there is a brooding nighttime nature to the song as well as the album as a whole, which Daughn produced with (Earth/Tim Hecker/Sunn O))) producer Randall Dunn.
The lyrics can be a dark ride for sure, there are no simple pop stories here. Tales of despair, regret and the general challenges of life prevail. ‘I let him deal,’ for example would sit well on any National Album.
"Shine Of The Night," comes apparently from time serving in Iraq for the man from Carlisle, Pennsylvania., (born Josh Martin") You die when you die" croons the lyric before a sweeping saxophone eases the burden.
This is an exceptional album and one you won’t regret adding it to you collection!
Pete
10/11
Carnation is out now on Sub Pop records
1. Bled to Death
2. Heaven You Better Come In
3. Shatter You Through
4. For Every Bite
5. Daddy I Cut My Hair
6. A Rope Ain’t Enough
7. I Let Him Deal
8. Shine of the Night
9. Runaway and the Pyro
10. It Wants Everything
11. Back With the Family