Marc Carroll

Posted in World On A Wire - reviews on 20/10/2010

World On A Wire

The Irish Times

Marc Carroll has been waiting in the wings so long now he must surely feel more like a set designer than a main act. Each album release looks set to see him perched at the top of the food chain; each album release gets people like me in a right old lather; each album release sells zip. The truth is the guy is something of a genius; whereas before he has Big Star/Badfinger guitars swirling around collections of superlative pop/rock songs, with World On A Wire he has opted for strings of a more mellow nature and created a record of warmth, truth, beauty and something approximating a career best. If Bob Dylan raised on an aural diet of Brian Wilson rather than Woody Guthrie appeals to you, then prepare to be blown away. Is this the record to drag him out centre stage though? Could be, should be ...

Posted in World On A Wire - reviews on 20/10/2010

World On A Wire

HOT PRESS (Ireland)

The follow-up to his acclaimed Ten of Swords solo debut, World On A Wire sees the prodigiously talented Dubliner in a much more sombre mood. With piano and strings predominating, the jangly guitar pop has been largely replaced by a much more reflective, introspective sonic approach. In fact the starkness and barely-repressed anger pervading songs such as 'It Isn't Always Easy', 'No Time At All' and 'Love Over Gold' makes you wonder what kind of traumatic events might have inspired them (even the record company press release states bluntly that "this is not for the fainthearted"). That said it's not as downbeat as it might sound and fans of Cohen, Buckley, Cave and Cash should find plenty of resonance on this brave artistic statement. His songwriting style and ragged voice has been compared in the past to everyone from Dylan to Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, but Joe Strummer and Mott The Hoople's Ian Hunter spring more readily to mind here. Throughout World On A Wire Carroll refreshingly celebrates rather than conceals his influences; 'God's Wit' cleverly re-works the guitar intros from the Beatles' 'If I Needed Someone' and the Monkees' 'Last Train To Clarkesville' into a gorgeously realised folk song, 'In Agreement With Reality' boasts a 'Knocking On Heaven's Door' choir-like intro while 'Till These Bars Break' is underpinned by On The Beach-era Neil Young-style acoustic picking. 'Talk Again' is the nearest thing to an upbeat pop-song, though Carroll's lyrics again contrast sharply with the backdrop: "I'm lost, done in and I'm low so low, I can't find thoughts for today or face tomorrow." Heavy going it might be at times, but a little perseverance slowly but surely reaps its rewards.

Posted in World On A Wire - reviews on 20/10/2010

World On A Wire

The Irish Independent

Dubliner Marc Carroll has had his fair share of misfortune. A less strong-willed soul would have thrown in the towel. He's also had to contend with the Next Big Thing millstone that has been around his neck since coming to the attention in the mid 1990s. This third solo album is a timely reminder of his songwriting pedigree. His Dylanesque way with words, coupled with inventive & stirring instrumentation sets, make him stand out.

Posted in World On A Wire - reviews on 20/10/2010

World On A Wire

Maverick Magazine

Irishman with a somewhat dark and morose collection of introspection

Dublin-born and raised, Marc Carroll moved to London when he was sixteen. He played in various aggregations until deciding to strike out on his own. In 2002 he recorded his debut album Ten Of Swords which received impressive reviews in numerous quality papers including The Telegraph, The Times, The Guardian and The Independent. Despite the predictions of some reviewers that Carroll was headed for stardom in the near future, he has remained something of a cult figure.

Unlike a number of singer songwriters, it is difficult to try and categorise Carroll's music. For a relatively young man he has a world weary voice, sounding at times like a marginally less disillusioned, younger version of Tom Ovans. There is a darkness and quite startling intensity to his lyrics when he frequently becomes morosely introspective as he considers people and situations in the world around him and time and time again he can make the listener feel decidedly uncomfortable as he expresses his own secret fears and uncertainties, simply because, in doing so, he holds up a mirror for us to take a deeper look at ourselves and we discover, to our discomfort, that we too harbour many of these same, unspoken fears.

No Time At All for example, with it's one minute intro, which strikes a foreboding in us, is just a spit short of a detailed psycho-analysis of a manic depressive, stripped of self esteem and teetering on the brink of despair. There are no happy songs to make us want to join in on jolly choruses, and unless one is prepared to sit and listen intently to Carroll's lyrics, however sombre and at times down right pessimistic, they should give World On A Wire a wide berth.

However, the deeply contemplative individual who is willing to listen and patiently observe him peel away layer after layer of illusion until he bares his very soul, will find this a satisfying listening experience. Not only has Carroll written all eleven songs, he also plays all the featured instruments, and, unerringly, he selects these to fit the mod of the song. For the most part, there is an almost hypnotic, insistent rhythm to most, but piano and sombre Cello open several songs before being joined by other sounds, but Carroll is an imaginative and creative artist; one who knows exactly how to set the mood and then develop it to fit the lyrics.

Some may find this work too melancholic, too dark, too pessimistic and wish there was a little more light and a lot less shade, but those who find the deep well of melancholy a sort of catharsis, will appreciate what this man has sought to accomplish.

Posted in World On A Wire - reviews on 20/10/2010

World On A Wire

Q

The second album from Irish songwriter complete with grizzled voice and whining harmonica, World On A Wire has much to admire.

Posted in World On A Wire - reviews on 20/10/2010

World On A Wire

Record Collector

Self-Produced second effort from gravel voiced Irishman.

Opener A Way Back Out Of Here, a stately dignified piece, would have fitted snugly onto Dylan's Time Out Of Mind, it's weary, resigned tone befitting a man much older than Carroll. Carroll is a man who has learnt his craft well and this material is undeniably accomplished.