Carpenter, Cody: Cody Carpenter’s Interdependence

OK, let’s deal with the elephant in the room first. Yes, Cody Carpenter is the son of iconic synthwave horror composer John Carpenter and no, his music here doesn’t sound anything like that of his father. Don’t believe me? OK, try “Jinrai Fuuretsu�, the opening number from the instrumental synth-jazz-fusion-rock-pop-gaming album Interdependence. Space age and dayglo all at the same time, the broad brush strokes being slathered on here are gleeful in execution and nigh on impossible not to meet head on with a massive grin on your face! Cody does much of this on his own, although bassist Jimmy Haslip and drummer Scott Seiver are pretty much along for the entire ride. And what a ride it is, “Face The Future� a little (but not a lot) more pensive in construction, but no less bright and breezy.

So far you could maybe combine Herbie Hancock at his fusionist with Super Mario and you’ll be well on your way to the glaringly up tempo feel laid out. Carpenter himself, not satisfied with handling synth (which leads the way most of the time) and guitars (which stay in the back seat for the majority of this journey), also moves to drums and bass for “The Procession�, which is nothing of the sort, instead this tracks pops and struts quite proudly. The main man again provides bass on “Nebulous Is The Power�, however, this time Virgil Donati rips up a storm behind the kit, while PJ D’atri brings a stinging guitar solo that expertly rivals Carpenter’s key-work for supremacy.

In between you get the slightly more reserved “Her Precious Youth�, where the mood is calmed somewhat, “Heart Of Slag� which shocks by being possibly even more upbeat than the majority of Interdependence (who thought that was possible??) and “Overlooking The Divide�, which adds possibly the most pensive push in sight, although we’re hardly talking introspection. Oh, and it’s undoubtedly worth highlighting the stupendously controlled bass work from Haslip here.

Interdependence is an album crackling with energy and fit to bursting with top notch musicianship. That it is also possibly the best way to slap a smile on your chops this side of winning the lottery, really is the keyboard infused, foot stomping, melody making cherry on top. Let the good times roll and roll and roll!

Track Listing
1. Jinrai Fuuretsu
2. Face the Future
3. Overlooking the Divide
4. The Divide
5. Heart of Slag
6. Thinking of What Might Be
7. The Procession
8. Premonition
9. Her Precious Youth
10. A Simple Sustenance
11. Nebulous is the Power

Added: July 7th 2018
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Interdependence at Blue Canoe Records
Hits: 3448
Language: english

[ Printer Friendly Page ]
[ Send to a Friend ]