Backroad Carnival
Author: Jim Hickson
View album and artist detailsAlbum and Artist Details
Artist/band: |
Cory Seznec |
Label: |
Captain Pouch Records |
Magazine Review Date: |
November/2017 |
Cory Seznec first made waves as part of the quirky American roots group Groanbox Boys and has since cropped up in many bands including the recent Ethiopian-Malian fusion group Damakase. After living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the past three years, fermenting his musical ideas, Backroad Carnival sees him jump back into his solo work.
The album features a grab-bag of styles and influences from his own roots and travels. Blues and country music are the prevailing sounds, but the style shifts on every track, from the Tom Waits-esque opening number, to country pop and Scottish folk flavours.
Most of the songs on Backroad Carnival take inspiration from Seznec's experiences in Ethiopia and his journeys throughout Africa, but there is surprisingly little musical influence of these cultures in the writing. There are only little ripples of Congolese guitar here, the occasional West African percussion there, and none of the recognisable scales or rhythms of his adopted home. The music is really at its best when rootsy blues is the main focus of the song, such as the piece ‘Sell You My Soul’, which also includes some tasty blues harpistry from David Chalumeau.
The album features a grab-bag of styles and influences from his own roots and travels. Blues and country music are the prevailing sounds, but the style shifts on every track, from the Tom Waits-esque opening number, to country pop and Scottish folk flavours.
Most of the songs on Backroad Carnival take inspiration from Seznec's experiences in Ethiopia and his journeys throughout Africa, but there is surprisingly little musical influence of these cultures in the writing. There are only little ripples of Congolese guitar here, the occasional West African percussion there, and none of the recognisable scales or rhythms of his adopted home. The music is really at its best when rootsy blues is the main focus of the song, such as the piece ‘Sell You My Soul’, which also includes some tasty blues harpistry from David Chalumeau.
