I’ve been a Jack Carty fan ever since his debut EP Wine & Consequence passed across my desk. So I’m thrilled to see the artist he’s grown in to, as showcased by his stunning first long player, One Thousand Origami Birds.
Opening up the cardboard sleeve, you know you’re in for something special. It’s beautifully illustrated with those titular origami birds swarming over landscapes. With the rise of digital media cover art has all but been forgotten, but my inner vinylphile laps up this sort of effort. It really sets the tone for an album that’s a cut above.
The laidback folky sound I fell in love with has been built upon here. It’s still driven by the gentle plucking of an acoustic guitar, but the clever use of strings and brass adds fullness and life. “Grey Sky” is the sort of soaring epic that I can imagine hearing on a Damien Rice disc. “Them There Hills” was another stand-out for me. It seems so simple with its acoustic guitar picking and foot stomping, but it stirred me like an old blues song. The soundscapes Jack paints are matched by earnest, poetic lyrics.
Anyone who’s been reading my blog for a while knows I have a soft spot for acoustic guitar loving songwriting folky musicians. But even I can admit there’s a glut of them. With One Thousand Origami Birds Jack Carty’s proven he has the stuff to stand out from the pack. This album is truly something special.