Music
Press
Todd Carter who fronts this group has an intriguing, androgynous voice and some fascinating songs. He’s studied opera, which might explain his unique approach to alternative rock.
“Revolt, I Do” is reminiscent of Morrissey in its sweet swagger.
”Lele” is a fascinating chamber pop song.
“Spinoza” describes its protagonist’s fascination with the philosopher. Carter sings beautifully whilst a lovely violin part by Ernesto Villa-Lobos adds tension.
The catchy, irresistible “The Silver” is a duet with Camomile Hixon. The two voices thrive together. It’s one of the album’s strongest tracks. But they are all good.
This is the birth of a new star. - Collected Sounds
What happens when a guy that has studied with the Metropolitan Opera's Edna Lind and adores Wagner also happens to dig gloomy alternative rock? Well, it would sound something like The Looking.
Todd Carter is basically The Looking, for all intents and purposes, and he writes poetic lyrics, sings with a pure voice and ends up sounding like nobody else you've ever heard before. Carter's voice is similar to Morrissey's during "I Am Your Labyrinth," yet he infuses a Boy George-like vibrato into "The Colors of Fall."
This latter track also slips into a nice jazzy section at the end. Tin Can Head opens with a keyboard-aided intro that sounds a whole lot like Joe Jackson on the track called "Lily Mansions." Carter's vocal here, by the way, is particularly gentle, too.
"The Silver" is also memorable, because Carter is ably assisted by Camomile Hixon on additional vocals.
These song titles alone reveal the deeper than normal depth of Carter's lyrical ideas. How many other artists, for instance, are capable of writing songs like "Breathing Ether Dreams" or "I Am Your Labyrinth"? (Short answer: Very few).
At its best, this work has a majestic quality to it, although all of its pomp and circumstance can sometimes come off a little pretentious after a while. The Looking is a rare breed, indeed, and Tin Can Head is perfectly suited for those in search of something just outside the predictably dreary and ordinary pop realm. - Indie-Music.com
Discography
Camomile EP 2008
Debut Full Length Black Horses 2009
Photos
Bio
Many days of the week Camomile is trying to catch the melodies floating around her
head, a little like catching butterflies in a net. When she least expects it, the net
contains something shimmering and full of life. Camomile’s self titled EP, and the
forthcoming full length debut album Black Horses, explore joy, loss, alienation, and the
longing to know the Divine.
Camomile’s musical sound has been influenced by such artists as U2, Yes, Tori Amos, Bjork, Radiohead, Natalie Merchant, Sigur Ros, Peter Gabriel, Dave Matthews, Phillip Glass, Sting, Roxy Music, REM, Morrissey, The Cure, David Bowie, Jeff Buckley, Led Zepplin, Heart, Sarah Mclaughlin, Blondie, Pat Benatar, Nussrat Fatah Ali Kahn, Ravi Shankar, and Kate Bush.
In addition to composing and singing, Camomile plays guitar, ukulele, harmonium and autoharp. Camomile trained with Edna Lind, who sang with the Metropolitian Opera Company and coached many of its singers, and with Mala Ganguly, the renowned vocalist from Calcutta, who taught her the light classical and devotional music of North India.
Camomile believes her songs are of unknown origin, and when one appears, she tries to transmit it without interference. She knows the songs come from a magical place, which always remains elusive. This is the place where the answers to the riddles lie. She believes that we are all divine but we have forgotten that truth, and the music helps us remember.
Camomile is currently writing music for a record of Bhajans, or chants, which will fuse East Indian instruments including the tablas, Sitar, Sorod, Tampura, and Harmonium with western guitar and electronica. The ethereal vocals will blend Bengali, Sanskrit and English. Camomile is always interested in the progress of music and ways of blending the ancient sounds of the past and incorporating technology to create music for the future.
Links
