Threading the fine line between introspection and observant, expansive lyricism, ‘Death Farm’ is a nuanced, meaningful record, the kind of album written with purpose and inspiration, perhaps hoping to enlighten listeners with fragments of hidden truths and reflective motifs. Drenched in tender and acoustically driven folk goodness, the record benefits from gentle acoustic guitars and the occasional fuller arrangement, always delivered with feathery flair and a strongly cathartic allure.
Behind such a potent effort, we find Chicago-based creative Carl Hauck, blessing ‘Death Farm’ with his hypnotic, magnetic vocals, always up to the task of lulling listeners into a three-dimensional, elegant and escapism-driven sonic universe. We use the word ‘escapism’ carefully here, because Hauck would rather for us not to escape our gloomy reality, instead trying to change it. Yet, the record itself feels hazy and lush, almost dreamy at times, truly building its own lyrical and sonic space.
Delving deeper into the album, Carl explains: “Writing these songs was, for me, an attempt at asserting a place for ‘playful’ in the Venn diagram between ‘personal’ and ‘political. It was the most fun I’ve had making music in a long time. But part of that process was also reckoning with the discomfort I feel about the comfort with which I’ve gradually surrounded myself with.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Death Farm’ on Spotify:
