When you hear the rainy grandeur of John Carpenter, you’ll be left in shock (and not because you’ll find out he has nothing to do with the film director).   His physical roots maybe in NYC, New Jersey and Los Angeles, but his metaphysical routes are firmly planted in post-punk Liverpool.  And the catch?  The boy can sing.  His voice is a transplanted and translatantic evocation of Scott Walker, Colin Blunstone, and Ian McCulloch.

His debut single ‘Seasons’ is a solid gold bit of rainy grandeur.  Carpenter evokes the doomy northern soul of Echo and the Bunnymen.  The spooky post-punk is a sweeping technicolor treat, and just as majestic as anything found on the Bunnymen’s earlier efforts.  John’s musical language of another planet of pure musical whimsy, and does the impossible task of incorporating all of your favourite cult heros, no matter how diverse, in the architecture of his pop music.

On the strength of Seasons, he has self released a four track EP called ‘Possibilities’.  And within the four songs, he has developed even further than you would imagine in a short period of time.  ’One for Me’ is a baroque call and response, where Carpenter almost embodies several soulful personas within one song.  ’Strange House’ is a ghostly groove.  ’Without a Sound’ has a rushing urgency. John Carpenter writes big tunes.  His set is cinematic.  And somehow he evokes cabaret of Walker’s earlier records and Antony and the Johnsons sadder moments of despair (all with the basement, scruffy street punk attitude and charm).  It’s ace.

After you guys chose Lovelle as the UK ambassador on the Pepsi-back Akon single “Oh Africa”, the time has finally come!

On Sunday (31st January), the single will be released, and we all hope it gets to number one!

The song, featuring Akon and Keri Hilson (pictured with Lovelle, right) is giving proceeds from the sales to helping underprivileged African youth. Akon’s Konfidence Foundation, (Konfidence.org), will be one of the main charities set to receive a portion of the proceeds.

Check out konfidence.org to download the track, and check back here next week for more information and videos!

Maxcast Team