In a world where people’s attention spans are, let’s say, not what they were, it takes a brave artist to open their album with what is essentially a piano ballad. But that is because Damien Cartier and his orchestra, named Wabi Sabi for the concept of beauty in imperfection, understand that programming an album’s run effectively is much more important than giving the potential listener exactly what they want to hear right off the bat.
The concept of Wabi Sabi is perfect for an orchestra that never plays a song the same way twice live, an ensemble that lives in the moment and understands the raw performance ritual is more than just an off-the-page recital. Much more.
It is with the second song, I Am OK, that we get a more representative taste of what Wabi Sabi is all about, a neat blend of old-school soul and modern reinvention, a weave of roots sounds – funky grooves, R&B sass, neo-soul adventurousness and bluesy sonics.
From here, they visit drifting balladry via the title track, ska-intoned slices of truth with Not Yet, Sister, funky pop shuffles thanks to The Fall and Bowie-esque rock with Spacetime. And that, is just the tip of the musical iceberg.
And for those who need easy reference points, how about this? Imagine if Stevie Wonder was starting today and was doing so with all of today’s studio technology and an additional fifty years of musical history to be influenced by. Well, that!
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