Review Summary: Aussie folk rock, with european fans.
The name Carus is quite familiar with the people of the Victorian and Western Australian surfcoast. Mainly because he has become an integral part of the surf culture, be that so he is not just a name that Australians know of well. With his new album,
Creature Of Habit Carus has spread his wings and broadened his horizons from the small shows and intimate settings in Australia to large audiences across Europe.
Having toured the world relentlessly for the last ten years, garnering substantial followings in the U.K, Germany, France and Australia, Carus Thompson could easily take a well earned break. As a solo artist and with his three piece backing band ‘The True Believers’, he has sold over 30,000 CDs independently, supported luminaries such as Dave Matthews, Damien Rice, Jack Johnson, John Butler and The Waifs and been a regular at many of the major festivals. Playing to over 2000 people on the Germany leg alone, the recent European tour has been Carus’ most successful yet. ‘Long Time’, the first single lifted from the album in Germany has also gone Top 40 in the German National College Radio charts, giving him a large audience.
Yet rather than putting the feet up, Carus returns with what is sure to be his most appreciated and loved album to date – his solo effort,
Creature Of Habit. Carus set out to make an album that rested on one foundation – the strength of his song writing. And that foundation is set strong. With Carus and his acoustic guitar front and centre all of the tracks follow a simple code of melodic depth, warm and artful neo-acoustic arrangements and an emotional honesty, that is all the more apparent when delivered minus band. His lyrical conviction and musical intricacies work wonders together and make one of the most enjoyable blues/roots albums of 2009.
Anyone who has seen his acoustic shows knows the strength and intensity of his performance and will have been waiting for him to make this album. The irony is that this ‘little’ album is the most satisfying, because it relies on the most important thing a singer songwriter can rely on: songs - and on
Creature of Habit Carus has without a doubt delivered his best collection yet.
