March Forth

Album Review

KaiserCartel, the duo of Courtney Kaiser and Benjamin Cartel, creates lovely atmospheres and gentle auras on March Forth. Minimalistic in style, but with a fullness of sound thanks to Matt Hales' rich production, the set showcases the pair's gentle simplicity to best advantage. Kaiser handles the bulk of the leads, her sweet, clear vocals featured on half a dozen songs within, while Cartel's warm baritone takes center stage on another four. His highlight is "The Flood," a moody song swept by melancholy strings and filled with foreboding. Hers are the yearning "Oh No" and the harmonic drenched "Good One." Best of all, though, are their duets, where their vocals intimately intertwine. Although KaiserCartel will probably find themselves lumped in with the new folk movement, in fact their roots lie in the indie rock scene. This is self-evident on both the delicate, pop riven "Inside Out" and the coursing, New Order inspired "Okay." Even so, R&B and C&W have also left a light imprimatur on their sound. Many of their songs are sung to each other, most laced with love and themed around acceptance of their differences. The bright and sunny "Season Song," in contrast, is a perky serenade to spring, while "Dog Star" revolves around lost dreams. This is a graceful set, lit with pretty melodies, subtle instrumentation, and lovely singing from both bandmembers. As introductions go, it's a charmer.