First of all, I’d like to say welcome to A Future in Noise’s new contributor, Ian! I have recently put up a Last.fm Journal announcement in regards to gaining additional contributors, so I hope that soon we’ll have quite a team of budding, knowledgeable music enthusiasts writing here! There is also some music that I would like to take some time to highlight and review:

John Carpenter is an artist that I found out about due to his drummer J. Explosive, previously of ANIMATION, coming across my MySpace Music page. Even before reading their influences (which include some of my top favourite artists, Echo and the Bunnymen, Roxy Music, and John Cale), after hearing a classic like “All That Glitters is Gold”, it becomes apparent that there is an undercurrent of appreciation of fine music of days gone by. Combine this with some fine songwriting, versatile and soulful vocals, and tight-knit musicianship, and you’ve definitely got music worth listening to! From their MySpace” [John] plays guitar, bass, piano and viola. J.Explosive is the drummer. Aaron Stoquert is on bass. Nick Niles, keys and backing vox.” He sent me copies of two of his works:

All That Glitters is Gold (available on iTunes here) - John Carpenter
(*cover art pictured above of All That Glitters is Gold, by J. Explosive)

1. “All That Glitters is Gold”: This song stood out to me when I first heard it, and serves as an excellent sample of Carpenter’s music, as a lovely, soundtrack-esque piece, and one of few songs in recent times that strikes me as simultaneously accessible to modern radio listeners as well as fans of 80’s neo-psychedelia and alternative pop/rock.
2. “Bones”: Very much the flip-side of the previous song, hear we have darker, spookier side of John Carpenter and the guys, with suspenseful changes in tune and beat and more of that irresistible catchiness that characterizes them so well!
3. “Not Today (Live)”: Darker still, this strikes me as a sort of song that I could picture Siouxsie and the Banshees performing in their hey-day (or maybe Siouxsie Sioux could cover it now..?), with surprisingly icy vocals and flashes of guitar.


Demos and Live Fiascos (available on iTunes here) - John Carpenter
(*cover art of Demos and Live Fiascos, by J. Explosive)

The MySpace Music description of their music as “Gothic-American-Blue-Eyed Soul”, “Raucous, Romantic, Psychedelic Chamber-Pop”, and “a little something for everyone” were readily apparent on the first three song set, and even further with this 14-track demonstration of their talent and style, with entertaining live tracks included along with home demos. Highlights include “Haunt My Home”, “The Night is Young”, “I Need to See My Queen”, and “Seasons”. An element I am also glad to hear, particularly in the live tracks, is that they seem to be very much having fun with their music, one which is often missing from other contemporary acts of today. Very impressive and enjoyable, over-all, and I’m looking forward to hearing more from John Carpenter and his crew, and (_absolutely_ based on hearing the live songs) catching them in concert if I can!

1. Cleaner Country, Higher Land (live)
2. The Night is Young (live)
3. Rollaway (live)
4. Haunt My Home
5. Johnny
6. Staring into the Sun
7. The Night is Young
8. Dead Beat Holy Ghost
9. I Need to See My Queen
10. Cleaner Country, Higher Land
11. Johnny (live)
12. I Need to See My Queen (live)
13. Sweet Bells (live)
14. Seasons

Listen! John Carpenter MySpace Music Page
Watch! John Carpenter YouTube Channel