MUSIC
CARONDELET
DEBUT ALBUM
OUT NOW!!!
PRESS FOR CARONDELET
****
"Engrossing storytelling..., reflective with a hopeful air. An album that speaks of so many places and times and yet manages to fit perfectly into the space and time it’s been released in"
"There’s a cathartic nostalgia to the album as he skilfully weaves together tales of adventure and romance...The production is beautiful, and each song has its own crystalline sound. It´s a set of songs which Quarterman has meticulously pieced together over many years, allowing each track to occupy its own thematic and sonic sphere. I’d thoroughly recommend this album to listeners who are keen on the contemporary lyricism of the likes of Frank Turner, but whose ears might sympathise more with the arrangements and instrumentation of Neil Young and Donovan"
"Decent tunes and excellent production, a quietly impressive album"
"Disarmingly simple and beguiling in its songs of bruised hearts and battered hopes..., listen once and you’ll be wanting to listen again almost immediately afterwards."
"Carondelet’ features a lovely collection of songs that use half-memories, real-life experiences, and urban landscapes to create beautiful vignettes into everyday life that resonate deep and long with the listener."
"Musically the narratives are presented with an emotive undertow ebbing and flowing in a graceful manner which is reminiscent of Elbow. [...] Quarterman has created a beautiful collection of songs that can be filed alongside John Prine or Cat Stevens. Take the time, give it your attention and you won’t regret the decision to do so."
VIDEOS
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Photo: Evren Akozbek @ Platform 64
BIO
Photo: Evren Akozbek @ Platform 64
QUARTERMAN is the name for the solo project of Man The Lifeboats’ lead singer and songwriter Richard James Quarterman.
Hailing from the moorlands of West Yorkshire, Quarterman moved to London Town in search of music, bright lights and most probably himself. Musical bonds were first forged with Wanderlust, who played every live music venue in London, the Marquee Club, the Astoria, the Metro Club, the Amersham, the Kings Head, the Water Rats, the Bull & Gate, Dublin Castle, you name it, we played it. And then, after support slots with Marillion and Bloc Party, the band folded rather undramatically. The lust for musical adventures had been stoked, however, and it wasn’t long before Quarterman was beavering away on his solo acoustic songs, working as an English teacher to pay the rent.
Man The Lifeboats were born in 2016, after a mind-blowing Skinny Lister gig in Islington. After a few years of plugging away on the circuit, things came full circle when Skinny Lister invited the band back to support them for their Xmas Bash under the hallowed arches of the Garage, where it all began. The songs are raucous folk numbers, born of Quarterman’s pen, the music and arrangements are a team effort, and Man The Lifeboats will be coming to a festival stage or a music venue near you soon.
After a few years of playing with Man The Lifeboats, Quarterman took a bit of time and plunged back into his old songs, which were stored away in the loft in boxes, tied up with string, never played to audiences or recorded. And he decided to do something with them. He got back in touch with old school friend and musician, and now acclaimed producer, Jamie Evans. The pair grew up on the same street and plucked and blew around the same school music department, before life took them their separate ways.
The pair got to work in Jamie’s home studio, on that same street they both knew so well, Woodhead Road. Jamie breathed life into the simple acoustic demos recorded on Quarterman’s iphone. Early on a decision was made, to follow the songs, wherever they went. Not to worry about style, nor instruments, nor to even think about the final product. The songs would be ready when they were ready.
As the songs developed the sound became clearer, hints of Quarterman’s influences came through, a bit of Neil Young here, Dylan there, Tom Waits, Guy Garvey, Simon & Garfunkel, Sufjan Stevens, Frank Turner. Jamie added instruments; bass, piano, percussion, organ, guitars, ukulele, hurdy gurdy, strings, horns. And sometimes, nothing: the hardest thing to add.
As the pandemic struck, and the country went in to lockdown, the album was remotely mixed by Colin Brain at his home studio, and Adam Vanrayne mastered. And then all of a sudden, one day it was ready to go. The album is out now on Quarterman’s own label, Wood Head Records.
