Carla Werner
Country of origin:
New Zealand
Type of music generally:
Ethereal pop/rock
Status:
Most recent release, My Lover's Ghost (2010)
See also:
Carla Werner's site
Comparisons:
Heather Nova; vocally like a clearer Sarah Blasko
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
A local girl with a guitar and a remarkable, jazz-tinged voice. (afries@zip.com.au)
Recommended first album:
Departure
Recordings:
- Carla Werner (EP, 1998)
- Departure (2003/4)
- Pure Things In Wild Places (2006)
- My Lover's Ghost (2010)
Departure
Release info:
2003—Columbia—CK 86866
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Carla Werner—vocal, acoustic, electric, and effect guitar
Guest artists:
Ged Lynch—drums (1, 2, 9, 10); percussion (2, 9, 10)
Mike Hunter—bass (1, 2, 9, 10)
Ken Nelson—e-bow and acoustic guitar (1); ambient guitar (2); guitar effects (7); additional electric guitar (9); piano (10)
Paul Mannion—electric guitar (2, 9, 10)
Lucius Borich—drums (3, 5, 6, 7, 8); percussion, bass (3); stab guitar (7)
Flynn Gower—electric guitar (3)
Emerson Swinford— e-bow guitar and 12-string guitars (3); electric guitar (3, 5, 6, 8); acoustic guitar (6)
Jamie Muhoberac—Wurlitzer (3, 8), delay synthesizer (3); keys/pads (5); moog/pads (6); Rhodes, synth (8)
Dario Bartolin—bass (4, 5)
Larry Muhoberac—string arrangement, conducting (4, 5)
Phillip Hartl, Askar Nurlanov, Fiona Ziegler, Alex D'Elia, Martin Silverton, Scott Stiles, Rachel Westwood—violins (4, 5)
Anne-Louise Comerford, Sandro Costantino—violas (4, 5)
Andy Hines, Adrian Wallis—cellos (4, 5)
Tim Cooper—electric guitar (5, 8)
Chris Bruce—bass, guitar effects (6)
Joel Shearer—guitar effects (6)
Carmen Rizzo—programming (6)
Sam Dixon—bass (7)
Rob Wolf—Rhodes (7)
Ben Rosen—bass (8)
Mark Phythian—pump organ (10)
Gary Burke—drums (11)
John Holbrook—moog bass, spaghetti western guitar, bloogle (11)
Dan Goodwin—electric guitar effects (11)
John Platania—diamond acoustic (11)
Mike Hannah—sample string arrangement (11)
Produced by:
Ken Nelson (1, 2, 7, 9, 10); Carla Werner (1–3, 5–11); Lucius Borich (3, 7); Carmen Rizzo (3–6, 8); John Holbrook (11)
Comments:
Carla Werner [is] the best new artist I've heard since The White Stripes five years ago. Her new album, Departure, is an outstanding debut, which will have you recalling traces of Jeff Buckley, Heather Nova, and perhaps Kate Bush. And although she's a New Zealander, her output is essentially Brit-rock. The strongest songs on the album are "Heaven Is A Word," "Wanderlust," and "Make It Up" each produced by Ken Nelson of Coldplay fame. Prog trance enthusiasts might also recognize her name from Paul Oakenfold's album Bunkka where she provided vocals on the best track on the album, "Southern Sun." (thecritics@earthlink.net)Gentle guitar songs with a fluttering voice, shelved in alt.country at my local store, but only because that's where they put pop music for grown-ups. Werner's easy way of singing—gliding across her melodies—gives the album a charming lazy feeling. There are many catchy tunes, maybe nothing sharp enough for a hit, though 'Wanderlust', 'Heaven is a word' and 'Make it up' could do it. The songs that diverge are refreshing—Departure has uncommonly crunchy guitars to go with her soaring voice, and atmospheric closer 'Iodine red' features a Middle Eastern touch to her wail, alongside guitar sounds similar to whale calls.
Whenever I listen to Departure, I'm amazed by how good and accomplished and nice it is. I wouldn't react like that if I really really liked it—I've got some distance from it. (k_hester_k@yahoo.co.nz)A gorgeous album that floats along on the strength of Carla's voice. Some people have criticized it for being same-y, but I don't think it is. The variations between the songs are subtle, however. (JoAnn Whetsell)
My Lover's Ghost
Release info:
2010—Of One Music—OOM 002
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Carla Werner—vocals, guitar
Guest artists:
Joshua Grange—bass, banjo, bass guitar, pedal steel guitar, piano accordion, pianos & baritone guitar
Anthony Zimmitti—drums
Johnny Moezzi—acoustic guitar
Comments:
Features a light and folky sound rather than the sonic lushness of Carla's debut album Departure. Carla's voice is as gorgeous as ever, I often find myself listening to this EP several times in a row. Hard to believe this is a collection of misfit songs culled from her upcoming release. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Thanks to JoAnn Whetsell for work on this entry.
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