Carey Clayton returns to our pages with a concept album that reflects on the physical and the spiritual, Headless.
By Graeme Smith
A songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist from Los Angeles, USA, Carey Clayton first featured on our blog in 2021 through his emotional journey of an album, gradually, suddenly.
Headless is an eclectic follow-up. A concept album exploring themes of meditation, mindfulness and spirituality, it muses on the relationship between the physical and our perceptions of it through the idea that we never see the space that our head takes up for ourselves.
Musically, it takes its cues from the likes of Radiohead and Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Opening with its title track we get an instant sense of the cinematic. Mysterious chords come and go before swelling to a wonderous high. Just as we think we’re getting the measure of things, an urgent change in tempo occurs warding us against our prejudices.
Light On follows, more conventionally arranged but still with plenty of experimentation. Swelling moments provide plenty of emotion. Infinite Figure (Big Picture) pairs a funky bass groove with cosmic electronica and soulful vocals before Curtain Call rounds off the early listening with a brooding, atmospheric highlight.
Future In a Past Life lightens things with a groovy moment. Into Shadow keeps things lively with a compelling percussion and elements of jazzy lo-fi. As it progresses, it builds to an almost ecclesiastical crescendo. It’s another highlight.
As the album presses on, other highlights include the layered, geometric rock of Concentric Circles, the richly revelatory One and One is One, the eerie electro-acoustic Reflector, and poetic, psychedelic album closer Point Of View.
With his new album, Carey Clayton has done it again. Gradually, suddenly was one of my favourite albums to review as part of this blog and with Headless, he goes one better. It’s an album with a strong concept that’s beautifully realised. Headless is a must listen.
Headless features musical contributions from Eric Derwallis, Sam Merrick, Danny Wolf, Josh Bailey, Steve Brickman, Kayla Starr, Katherine Shuman, Giosue Greco, and Joao Gonzalez. It’s out now and you can check it out below.
