Transatlantic Light

Transatlantic Light
This is the cover art for Album 'Transatlantic Light' Cover by the artist Lo Carmen. The cover art copyright is believed to belong to Lo Carmen.
Studio album by Lo Carmen
Released	20 September 2024
Studio	Lost Sound, Marrickville NSW, Australia Additional recording at Palomino Sound, Myponga SA, Australia
Genre	Americana singer songwriter psych indie rock folk
Length	38 mins
Label	Chiquita Records
Producer	Lo Carmen
Lo Carmen chronology
Lovers Dreamers Fighters (2017) Transatlantic Light (2024)

’Transatlantic Light' is the seventh solo studio album from Australian singer/songwriter Lo Carmen, recorded with The Great Beyond - Sam Worrad (guitar), Ken Gormly (bass), Cec Condon (drums) - Carmen’s longtime band. Everyone You Ever Knew was also recorded with The Great Beyond.

It was released on September 13 2024 on limited edition clear pink vinyl by Impressed Recordings, and digitally released on September 20 2024, by Chiquita Records (CHIQ016).

It was recorded at the studios Lost Sound in Marrickville, NSW & Palomino Sound in Myponga, South Australia in sessions over 2022 and 2024.

US rock critic Will Hermes wrote the liner notes for the limited edition vinyl, describing it as 'a holy-glowing dreamscape of smoke-clouded guitars, loping basslines and tantric drums that channel a history of sound recordings, from delta blues to chiaroscuro surf reveries, haunted pop ballads to modern bloodied valentines'.

The official release notes state ‘Self produced, recorded with her long time band The Great Beyond – Cec Condon on drums (Mess Hall), Ken Gormly on bass (Cruel Sea and Sam Worrad on guitar (Holy Soul), the album explores new sonic landscapes while maintaining the intimate, confessional style that defines her work. There are contributions from special guests including backing vocals from Robyn Hitchcock, Carmen’s father rock legend Peter Head on Hammond and piano and a ramshackle children’s choir sing-along on the new single ‘Fix Your Heart Or Die’.’

Music outlet Post To Wire noted ‘Gormly’s bass provides the melodic anchor below Worrad’s psychedelic, wandering guitar trails, while Carmen coos in her inimitable breathy style. There’s always the faint glimmer of an irreverent sneer in her dreamy delivery… the bitter to the sweet amid the loose and warm, garage and country rock shimmer’.

In the lead up to album release, singles ‘I Just Had To Run’, with accompanying video by Katerina Stratos, ‘Fix Your Heart Or Die’, with accompanying video created by Carmen and photographer Andrew Cowen and ‘A Shift In The Wind’ were released. The Autumn Roses described ‘A Shift In The Wind’ as ‘a sizzling, sedate and romantic waltz’ and ‘I Just Had To Run’ as ‘observant, independent-hearted and VU-esque’. . Russh Magazine selected ‘Fix Your Heart Or Die’ as a favourite track of July 2024 .

Carmen wrote most of the songs for ‘Transatlantic Light alone, co-composing ‘A Shift In The Wind’ and ‘Never Love A Singer’ with Sam Worrad.

Track listing

1. Fix Your Heart Or Die (3:54)
2. Never Love A Singer (3:03)
3. Get “Your Coat (4:23)
4. I “Just Had To Run (3:31)
5. A “Shift In The Wind (4:45)
6. Epic Encounter (7:19)
7. Swing or Fall (5:30)
8. Just Go Along For The Ride (6:07)

Personnel

• Lo Carmen – production, vocals, guitar, backing vocals, cover photography, artwork & layout
• Ken Gormly – bass
• Sam Worrad – electric guitar, backing vocals, vocal arrangements, co-composer
• Cec Condon – drums/percussion
• Peter Head – piano, Hammond organ
• Robyn Hitchcock – backing vocals
• David Akerman – Main Recording Engineer at Lost Sound, NSW
• Tristen Bird - Additional Recording Engineer at Palomino Sound, South Australia
• David Akerman – Mixing Engineer
• William Bowden at King Willy Sound – Mastering Engineer
• Katerina Stratos – Back cover and inside sleeve photography
• Derby Chang – Inside sleeve photography