Artist: Karlos O'Connor
Album: Collywobbles
Official Website
Youtube
Karlos O' Connor is an independent folk musician based out of Melbourne Australia. O'Connor lists some of his musical influences as American singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley, English folk rocker Keaton Henson, and the lyrical mastery of Bright Eyes. Whether you're feeling your stomach drop full speed on a roller coaster, or about to bump into your crush in line at the coffee shop... we've all felt those butterflies floating around in our stomachs at one time or another. The term for that feeling is actually called "Collywobbles", and it's the title of Karlos O' Connor's latest release. Very appropriately named, O'Connor's album takes us on a post-relationship journey, and the mixed bag of feelings that comes with that.
At first listen each song has an underlying hopeful feel, layering acoustic guitar, and delicate ringing harmonics with occasional piano, and moving string sections. Throughout the album things build dynamically adding percussion, bass, effected electric guitars, and vocal harmonies. You can feel the lingering sadness in O'Connor's voice also shifting back and forth from longing to slight anger, to indifference.. occasionally showering us with humorous honesty while saying "I don't like people, especially not you, I only like food, and sleep, and chocolate and sweets, and TV, really anything but you" Very self aware, O'Connor sings, "I know I'm overly sarcastic, I wish I could care" ...right before ripping into a whistle & spoon solo.
On the track "Over My Head", Karlos sings "Since you left I just sit, eat, and drink a lot, hoping for the day I can let go, trying not to fall through these walls, through this floor"...Like all things, it takes time to fall into the swing of life after it comes crashing down around you. The last track, "Collywobbles", O'Connor really digs his teeth in, and taps into his raw emotions. Painting imagery of a butterfly flying away from the bleeding butterflies inside of himself... asking for a second chance, for the butterfly to fly back to him, "Come home to me" once more. Bittersweet, and forlorn at times, this is an impressive collection of songs from Karlos O'Connor. We look forward to what's next to come from this indie folk troubadour.
If you're local to Melbourne make sure to pick up a hand-painted copy of "Collywobbles" from Karlos O'Connor. Or download / stream the album on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/4Qm0XbIEJNzD7tKNe4ZVbB