Marc Carroll - In Silence

If there was ever an award for most incidents in a career, Marc Carroll would certainly be a contender for it. In a career spanning ten years, the Irish singer-songwriter has had his unlucky share of folded labels, collapsed deals, money-grabbing marketers and just a bunch of mongs.

And yet, despite these confidence-denting setbacks, Marc has produced four albums worth of material that is full of heart, and act as a physical tribute to his single-minded determination and talent. Each of which has received critical acclaim which begs the question, why is Marc Carroll not yet in the charts? Fortunately through the release of new album In Silence on stable label One Little Indian, the answer is in sight.

The sound of pleasant folk-punk combinations is shaped from Marc’s wide array of influences, from Beach Boys to Husker Du, Hank Williams to Neil Young, each participant has created a unique individual sound which produces tracks like the peaceful opening instrumental The Boy Who Dreamed, and the pained expressions of past experiences witnessed throughout the rest of the album.

It’s a wonder how Marc managed to retain the willpower to continue making music in the high standard he has, surely his optimistic approach to life is a trait considered desirable by a lot of people, and that alone should be the reason to propel Marc into the mainstream. He has battled through the low points of his career with little to say about it, which to me makes him highly respectable and deserving of a wider audience.

To those wanting to gain an insight into the music of Marc Carroll, In Silence is a great window to it. The music is accessible enough to have playing in the background and complex enough to concentrate on. The mix of acoustic, folk, punk and blues is infused perfectly to create a set of twelve tracks which remain enjoyable to the highest degree. If you’re still unsure about listening to the new album, then you must know that Brian Wilson and Bob Dylan also enjoy a cheeky bit of Marc Carroll, so ner.

7/10

“The respect of legends is well deserved” *****Gavin Martin, Daily Mirror
“A performer in for the long term… deserving of a wider audience” ****Fred Dellar, Mojo
“Byrds-like guitar and Beach Boys harmonies delivered with brio” ****Nigel Williamson, Uncut
“One of Ireland’s truly great songwriters” ****Tony Clayton-Lea, Irish Times