Customer Reviews

Departure

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Carla Werner's voice is something to behold. While she rarely soars to the heights and dips to the depths, she conjures a lovely croon with a magnetic quality, an old-time folk/pop singer's purity that keeps you listening.

Her songwriting isn't all that impressive. Songs meander and rarely build to emotional peaks beyond a mournful melancholy, and Werner's arrangements rarely stray from the same chiming acoustic strums, single-line melodic guitars and crisp snare drums. The result is a very homogenous-sounding record, where the individual songs fail to stand out and there is nary a memorable hook to be found. However, Werner's voice is so seductive that she can still hold your ear. It's not often that I keep listening to a record with such shapeless and undefined songs, but I did -- all the way through, all because of that voice.

I think Werner can be capable of much more. Singers like Harriet Wheeler (The Sundays) and Caroline Crawley (Shelleyan Orphan, Babacar) have that same vocal purity that can sound beautiful singing the phone book, yet they couple their formidable instruments and technique with exciting compositions, arrangements and lyrics -- and produce pure magic. Crawley's is especially a good example for Carla Werner. If Werner can cut loose a little more and write and record more ambitiously, she will far exceed her current musical expectations.

I bought this cd based on the song clips I heard here on Amazon. The price was cheap, so I figured why not. This cd is wonderful, very laid back. Carla's voice reminds me a lot of Leona Naess, another great singer. The lyrics are simple but meaningful and her sound is very catchy. I would recommend this to anyone, especially at such a low price. I am looking forward to Carla's next release!

I picked up Carla's CD after hearing it at a local Barnes & Nobles store. This New Zealander is a great talent. The music could be described as downtempo haunted folk songs. The lyrics are subtle and meaningful and Carla's voice is superbly sensual. Think of Chris Isaak and the Cowboy Junkies blended together. The closing track, "Iodine Red" is worth the purchase price alone. I don't think I've heard anything so moving in a long time. It conjures up images of driving through the desert on a lonely stormy night. Totally evocative.

I happened to stumble over this cd at a borders, heard all the tracks twice and liked the mellow vibe and her voice. It reminded me very much of Jeff Buckley, but I knew carla was doing something musically that strays from the norm. I took a chance and brought the cd home to my husband who loves music and is also very selective of what he listens too. For some reason, the music sounded even better with dim lights, candles and a great sound system. We were both stunned at her music and even more that she wrote all the songs. She is very soulful and spiritual, and I'm not sure why I haven't heard about her before. Her music reminds me of Radiohead, Tori Amos, Sixpence None the Richer, and some other heavenly combinations I haven't heard before. She is tapping into something beautiful and special. If you enjoy well made music that is different from the norm, run to the store now.

The most impressive aspect of this album is it's truly professional audio mastering.

Of course that alone would not warrant a five star rating, but it definitely doesn't hurt.

The music itself is based in voice, accoustic guitar, bass, drums. There's more to it than just that, but that alone would be apt to convey the overall flavor.

I find it difficult to compare Carla to anyone specific but I am reminded of such things as 'the cranberries' debut album 'everbody else is doing it, So Why Cant We', and 'k.d. lang's' 'INGENUE' (ala 'Constant Craving'). The comparison is mostly in conveyed mood. Mood to laugh by. Mood to cry by. Mood to do the deed with someone special by.

As for Carla's voice, it is very pleasant.

Listen to the samples here at Amazon and you'll know exactly what you're getting.

Good job Carla and please keep on truckin' because I for one would love to hear more music like yours that breaks the monotony that the commercial music industry tries to funnel us all into.

I hope this helps and if you're unsure just buy it because if you don't like it (for some reason I can't imagine) you'll have absolutely no trouble finding someone who will adore it and it'll make a great gift. It's a steal at the current price.

After several listens to Carla Werner's debut album 'Departure' I've come to the conclusion that the departing the title refers to must be by water. Throughout Departure, Carla Werner sings like a harpy, calling out to lost souls on a sea of music that ebbs, flows, drifts and every so often becomes a little turbulent. However, it's the vocals that are always in the ascendancy - not suprising given that Werner possesses a voice so beguiling it could make tax law sound sexy.

The prevailing mood of Departure is a dreamy romanticism and poeticism reminiscent of Jeff Buckley, and although that might appear to be a lazy, amateurish comparison (and one that is wheeled out far too often), in this instance it really does give a good indication for the feel here. It was the sound clips on this page that drew me in especially 'Heaven Is A Word' and 'Wanderlust', and these snippets actually do justice to most of the songs.

Given that Carla Werner hails from my homeland, New Zealand, I'm a little amazed I hadn't heard about her earlier. More people should know about this talented Kiwi songstress, and while I wouldn't say I've fallen completely under her charms, I do think she's delivered a beautiful and accomplished first album.

Next time out I expect to fall head over heels.

This debut album was three years in the making, and does it ever show in it's silky smooth recordings. Carla is a wonderful new artist whose vocal talents range the scale from soulful to edgy, without ever missing a beat. Songs like "Wanderlust", "Heaven Is A Word", and "Like Mercury" can be listened to over and over, while songs like "Make It Up", "Under" and "Iodine Red" SHOULD be listened to over and over in order to delve through its intricate vocal and melodic complexities. In short, buy this album and you will not be sorry. Carla is an artist to watch out for. My only complaint is that she did not include on here her cover of the Led Zeppelin song "Going To California" that I saw her perform live in Seattle. That was amazing...

Here it is only July and already the album of the year. With a five octave vocal range reminiscent of Jeff Buckley, she's able to write accessible melodies that will stay with you after one listen. If you don't own this record, you're missing out on a masterpiece.

I heard one of her songs on the radio (thank you WYCE) and asked for the CD for Christmas. Now, I can't stop listening to it. I agree with some of the other comparisons but I would say it is a mix of Cowboy Junkies meets PJ Harvey meets Radiohead if I had to classify it. Her voice is truly hypnotic.

This CD is amaaaaaazing to make love to; the beat and lyrics are absolutely fantastic! I picked up this CD after listening to it at a store, where the manager told me "This is guranteed to make your boyfriend drop his pants!" ;) How true