Eugene Carchesio & Leighton Craig - Leaves
CD from naturestrip (NS3005)
Buy Now $22.00 from Joel Stern and Friends
Leighton and Eugene have been quietly dropping brilliant musical pebbles in our pond for years, yet they have remained way under the radar of all but a few close followers, even in their hometown, Brisbane, Australia. Eugene Carchesio's timeless work as a visual artist has unjustly eclipsed his extraordinary output as a soundmaker. Since the early '80s, Mr E has steadfastly proliferated a sackful of barely-released cassettes and cdrs under the D.N.E moniker, consisting of some of the most waywardly original and exploratory music made in Australia. Similarly, Leighton Craig's work, usually documented in tiny editions on his own kindling label, has been heard by relatively few ears, but those who listen are immediately struck by the sublime sensibility, the effortlessness, and the exquisitely detailed understatement of his music. Leighton and Eugene are core members of the freely improvising psych-primitive ensemble 'The Lost Domain', whose cds on 'pseudo arcana', 'broken face' and 'digitalis' have created a fairly hefty underground stir, yet as a duo, their music has never previously traveled further then the ears of a handful of close friends. Originally a micro-edition of 30 handmade cdrs on the 'kindling' imprint, 'Leaves' simply has to be heard by a wider audience. Now, with its international release, we ask listeners to discover these two incredible artists for themselves. One of the few people to hear 'Leaves' first time around was Foxy Digitalis honcho Brad Rose. Here is what he had to say.... "Over the course of 34 minutes, Craig & Carchesio create a solemn atmosphere that will relax your mind and soothe your nerves. These 11 tracks are brilliant. Cicadas chirp alongside recorder whirls and banjo plucks. Many of these pieces are minimalist in approach and execution, but that does not mean there is little happening. It shows how well these two understand that when you're playing with Mother Nature as the third member of your group, sometimes you need to just quiet down and let her do most of the work. The most magnificent track, though, is the opening piece. Craig plays the organ and Carchesio picks an acoustic guitar. It hints at dark clouds overhead and torrential rains ominously looking on. But you feel at peace. This is so beautiful I can barely stand it. There is a bit of a Jewelled Antler vibe here, but this trumps just about every great thing I've heard from that label. "Leaves" should be released in a much wider format. This is too amazing to go unheard by more people. This is Craig & Carchesio's masterwork, and will instantly give you the sensation that you are outside, breathing the delicious Australian air. Highly, highly recommended." 10 out of 10