Marc Carroll

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.

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

World On A Wire

Net Rhythms

Two albums (and a rarities collection) and a Dylan thumbs-up in and the Dublin singer-songwriter is hitting his solo stride after several years fronting much underrated Irish outfit The Hormones. However, where Ten Of Swords was characterised by ringing upbeat folk rock Rickenbacker evocative of the Byrds the follow up is a far moodier and reflective affair steeped in piano and strings, Love Over Gold especially a plangent dark furrowed affair evocative of Blood On The Tracks era Dylan. There are other influences equally at work as the stark, backwoods acoustic folk feel of Till These Bars Break ably testifies. The lyrical mood is firmly downbeat, introspective with a melancholia edging into an emotional pessimism born of battering experience. The cello and piano shadings of the opening A Way Back Out Of Here clings to a ray of hope and salvation, but from here on he plunges into talk of 'losing the ones you look out for' on No Time At All, 'despair coming easy' on the deceptively breezy Dylanesque folk shuffle Together We're Strong, confessing to feeling "lost, done in and so low" on the strum along jangle Talk Again. But, whatever prompted him into writing those and the likes of the meditative It Isn't Always Easy, a gospel sounding In Agreement With Reality (which sounds to have borrowed the choir from Knocking On Heaven's Door) and the bitter turmoil of God's Wit where he "can't even remember my own name", given what's poured out on to the record you can't help but feel grateful.

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

World On A Wire

Fufkin Magazine (US)

In a departure from the more upbeat music that was featured on his earlier albums, Marc Carroll has strengthened his pop credentials with the more serious, ballad-oriented World On A Wire. "Together We're Strong" is a catchy mid-tempo song, but most of the tracks favour a Dylan/Neil Young solo approach. Something in the melody of "Till These Bars Break" reminds me of "Helpless" and "Ohio." This disc is already an early favourite for Top Ten honours in 2005.