I keep hearing The Caribbean’s music described as "Avant-garde" or maybe "Avant-Pop." Certainly, the title seems to fit the music on a lot of levels. There are raspy vocals recounting narratives that don’t quite go anywhere in that very postmodern kind of way, there are uncommon chord changes that can remind you of late 20th century orchestral music, there are drones and echoes and backwards guitars played and recorded on a mixture of modern and vintage equipment. But, to my ears, something about that "Avant-garde" label just doesn’t seem to quite fit.
The term usually carries an implied context that what you are about to hear was written only for the enjoyment of other musicians, or at least for a well-trained ear. When I first heard The Caribbean’s music, that was not my impression at all. Instead, I found it relaxing and casually familiar in a way that makes me want to make a mix tape for a mid-summer evening on the beach.
Certainly, if you take the time to really listen to their music, you will find layers and layers of complexity – musically, lyrically and emotionally. But, The Caribbean has managed to produce music that both the thinking man’s musician and the casual music lover can appreciate together.
The band’s fifth album, Discontinued Perfume, is scheduled to be released by Hometapes on February 22. They’ve released their first single from the album, "Mr. Let’s Find Out," as a free download. The song was inspired by Leonard Bernstein. Or rather, by a New Yorker article on Leonard Berstein. Or rather, by the way that article made The Caribbean feel when they reflected on it. I know, I know. We’re slipping back into Avant-garde territory. But, don’t fret about it. Just relax, listen and pretend that winter is already over.
P.S. If the single teaser track isn’t enough for you, The Caribbean has also released a free-to-download 12 song, 8 year retrospective here.
–Jarrett