I can’t quite explain how an album by the brilliant Thomas Carbou can go unnoticed in our traditional media. The guy is one of the most amazing guitarists of his generation. Well…
This album, created as a one-man band in a Montreal studio, offers a very beautiful atmospheric palette on the world-beat side, with powerfully visual expressiveness. Carbou plays a large number of instruments: 8-string guitar (nylon), electric guitar, bouzouki, cuatro, kalimbas, tamboa, xylophone, bérimbau, udu, drums, synthesiser, electronics, flute and voice. The guy is frankly impressive.
In a shifting scenography, but faithful to a coherent and continuous thread in terms of atmospheres, Carbou takes us with him on a glide over multiple landscapes, which we admire in an extended, panoramic view. A propulsive but not frenetic energy, achieved through synthetic lutherie, keeps our attention active and interested throughout the album.
The esteemed artist here trades technical virtuosity, of which he is more than capable, for the creation of relatively soft colours in an analogue palette, adapted to the melodies he sings in all sorts of languages: French, English, Icelandic, Brazilian Portuguese, Kiswahili, and others.
Fly Away makes you want to immediately take flight on the wings of a huge migratory bird.
