Labels: self released
Review by: Andy Malcolm
These Manchester based emo types have been knocking around for a while now, so it was good news to learn they had finally got around to putting together a demo, and very nicely done is the packaging too. Not just your written on CDR chucked in a plastic sleeve this, just a suitably DIY looking job straight outta the 90s. Carraway may be clearly in thrall to the period of REAL REAL EMO that we all know and love, yet this sounds really quite fresh to these tattered ears. The vocals are the stand out for me. Sung, talked, sobbed or shouted, rarely resorting to screaming (these guys are too veteran to be screamo I reckon). The songs are long (at least 4 minutes each), varied and rely on simmering – building up the tension to the outbursts, in typical mid 90s fashion. “High Seat” is utterly gorgeous, starting off with soft sung vocals with almost inaudible female backing. The guitar nudges gently and the waves of cymbal are awesome. Also loving the buried talky bit, emo as all get out. This is six minutes of utterly miserable meandering, which is exactly what the genre lacks these days. I want wintery songs of dread and sadness, and Carraway deliver perfectly on these counts.
So If you’re looking for a lazy summary of the sound, this lurks somewhere between September, emo era Cerberus Shoal, mid period Still Life and first LP Bob Tilton. This is the most promising UK mid 90s revival band since Jupiter Lander, and that’s a high honour indeed. In fact I doubt there has been any band in the past couple of years playing this kind of thing in such a thrilling manner. If there has been, tell me about them. Hey Carraway, I’d be in on a multi split label release on vinyl any time, you emo bastard mother fuckers!