CD Review: Carrigan, “Young Men Never Die”

There is a new sound creeping upon the music scene like the gorgeous chill of a winter fast approaching.  Led by the superbly talented, Zack Martin, Carrigan‘s new release, “Young Men Never Die” is an album sure to find its way onto the play lists of music lovers everywhere.

Having previously worked on such film and media pieces as The Way We Get By (in production) and India: A New Life (PBS), Martin has created a piece of staggering melancholy that feels like the soundtrack to a deeply affected sorrow-filled life. Throughout each track, the listener is carried further towards the destination of a sombre, yet beautiful, odyssey.  It is quite easy to lose one’s self in the creation of what could have only been produced through the apparent labor, dedication and talent of Carrigan.

The album was recorded over several years in a variety of environments and spaces throughout the city of Burlington, VT and the time and care put into all of “Young Men Never Die” is quite apparent.  There are multiple layers of experimental sound and lyrical emotion in every one of the 10 tracks which allows for something new to be discovered each time the CD is played. “Young Men Never Die” was previously self-released but Carrigan has signed with Hello My Name is Records who will be releasing the album this fall so, hopefully, more people with have the fortune of being exposed to their talent.

“Young Men Never Die” is not instantly accessible, it takes patience and commitment before the album unfolds and can be truly appreciated.  Such albums are rare in the deluge of pop, radio-ready music inundating commercials, TV shows and the music scene as a whole.  It is quite refreshing to have an album requiring work on the listener’s end because the reward of such labor is a much deeper musical enjoyment than could possibly be found with the more superficially delicious sound bites of today’s music scene.

Zack Martin’s voice echoes the dream-like quality often found in the genius of Thom Yorke but, overall, Carrigan is 100% their own sound.  Haunting, yes, but more so, “Young Men Never Die” is a gloriously aching piece of work that ebbs and flows like the ocean at midnight.

“Young Men Never Die” will be released on November 18th but you can get a hint of the sound with the single “Sunshine Through the Waves” now available on iTunes.

Photo Provided by Hello My Name Is Records