Craig Elliott: New 'Film Noir' EP

MusicReviews

22 Feb

KATIE BROWN - 22 FEB 2021

There’s a certain eeriness to Netherlands-based New Zealander Craig Elliott’s latest lo-fi release, an EP called Film Noir. As its title suggests, it’s a captivating and cinematic journey with darker, emotive undertones lurking beneath. Marking Craig’s return as a solo artist with his first release in four years, it follows on from 2017’s Tender Trample (released through MUZAI Records), moving away from the latter’s manic, high speed guitar and chaotic programmed drums to a more stripped-back, acoustic-based approach.

Released on the 29th of January, Film Noir is a three-track offering with, as Craig says, “a certain lo-fi charm” lent to it by Craig’s decision to “refurbish” rather than completely re-record earlier demo-type recordings of songs he had written many years ago. Wary of losing the inherent magic such recordings can often contain, his approach was to instead re-record some of the elements and then rework the arrangements and improve the mixes, giving the initial material “room to breathe” while retaining their original charm.

This is notable in “St. Elmo’s Fire”, where a background hiss was the result of Craig recording guitars late at night, reluctant to disturb flatmates. Pairing this recording with the restrained and softly-sung lyrics “Wherever you are / Are you alone / Thinking evil thoughts? / Are you a loner? / You could be with your / Enemies’ enemies” and shrouding them in its gentle ambience, Craig forms something of an eerie juxtaposition in the fraught tension he creates between the two elements of sound versus lyrical meaning. It’s a great example of a recording environment driving the direction and meaning of a song and breathing life into it, and Craig’s careful reworking of the track maintains this fragile balance.

In a similar manner, in “Film Noir” and “Stay Gone” Craig complements the meanings he neatly wraps into his choice of lyrics with his considered production. Structures evolve, and quietly frantic acoustic guitar morphs into shards of distorted textures, punctuating Craig’s gently-sung melodies and imbuing them with heavier undertones. In “Stay Gone”, through the addition of heavier textures, drums and effects the phrases “Have you thought about me / Like I’ve thought about you? / If what you longed for / Longed for you too / You wouldn’t lie to me, would you? / When you go / Oh God I hope you stay gone” transition from being simple questions to almost plaintive accusations as the song progresses and grows in intensity. With a similar effect, the clever instrumental and structural variety in “Film Noir” translates like the disjointed twists, turns and digressions of a train of thought with the song’s time signatures, key signatures and tempos shifting and changing with its lyrical content.

Film Noir’s trio of songs certainly do have a lo-fi charm, but they go far beyond that. They’re a compelling and interesting listen that speak of an accomplished and experimental artist who understands the inherent value of what many might overlook, and who possesses the gift of being able to unify all elements of his songwriting with masterful production and integrity.

Craig plans to follow Film Noir with further solo releases this year. He is also part of synth-pop act Red Sun Raygun and electronic side project Turn Pro, and both of these acts also have new releases scheduled in the coming months.

We look forward to what is next!

Listen to the EP below and find Craig on Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp