Cacartu

          These days, there isn't much jazz or soul music to be had in the mainstream music industry (much to my dismay).  However, Cacartu, a band out of Melbourne, Australia, is out to change this.  With their modern jazz instrumental style and neo-soul vocals and aesthetic, vocalist Kaitlyn Secker, guitarist Lachlan Leeds, secondary guitarist and synth-producer Kyle Muir, bassist Brayden Smith, and drummer Sebastian Antoine bring a fusion of old and new to create a sound that is wholly pleasing and an excellent addition to the genre.  Having formed only in recent years, Cacartu have just released their self-titled debut EP and it is certainly amongst the best debuts I have heard.

Cacartu's Self-Titled Debut EP

           The first track on Cacartu, "Blacksnake", begins with a brief introductory solo on the lead guitar, quickly followed by symbols that fade in from nowhere and shimmer next to the deep bass.  A seemingly blues-inspired jazz chord progression follows on the guitar with rhythm breaks that emphasize Secker's incredible voice.  As the abstract lyrics soar through her vocals, the drums pace the song in a standard, yet tireless beat.  The bass gets locked into a smooth pattern and the song is underway.  At under a minute through this 5 minute song, the drums pick up tempo and Secker gives us a glimpse of what her voice is truly capable of; finessed vibrato and pure sustained high notes.  The guitar follows her lead as the chorus nears its end, before the song settles back into the norm that it established early on.  It's worth noting at this point that the group as a whole is reminiscent of bands like Hiatus Kaiyote in their vocalist's unique tone and the lush soundscapes that are created by the talented instrumentalists.  After several more minutes of musical variation, the track breaks down into a prominent bass riff and transfers into a brief period of demo-esque improvisation before fading out.

The Painterly Logo Of Cacartu

          The final track on Cacartu, "Tiger's Tooth", opens up similarly with a lone guitar followed by crescendoing cymbals, however, ultimately taking on a more minimalist and upbeat tone.  The drums slowly move the song along as Secker relaxedly sings "Sunlight dripping off the leaves, sunlight dripping all over me...".  It's exactly these types of enigmatic and visual lyrics that pair so well with jazzy soulful instrumentals.  The guitar's bright voice lights up the track alongside the vocals, while the bass maintains a tranquil groove that anchors the song.  Without warning, the drums launch into a speedy beat that Secker, in a very composed manner, follows whilst the bass and guitar match the tempo change.  The two guitars compliment each other, now slightly dirty in tone, as the song transitions from the chorus into the bridge before the second verse.  Towards the end of the song, Secker, once again, unleashes her voice and the results are magnificent.  Perfectly complimenting each other, the vocals and instrumentals fade into silence as the EP comes to a close.

          Cacartu, a relatively new band, have crafted quite the impressive work of music their first run out.  With sensitive dynamics, soaring vocals, jazzy and skilled instrumentals, and an overall feeling of happiness mixed with other underlying emotions, Cacartu presents itself as a deep and lasting EP.  I am very excited by this band and look forward with great anticipation as to what their next project will be.  Definitely check out their music at their BandCamp page and be sure to head over to their Facebook.  Once again, I simply cannot wait to hear what Cacartu releases next.


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