caravan nothing - Something

Caravan Nothing

Something
self-released; 2013

4.0 out of 5

By Dan Alcantara

Zachary P. Lunte has been making music under the name Caravan Nothing for an undocumented amount of time. All I know for sure is that he's been recording music for the last six years and that he made an album after spending a month in New Zealand. Other than that, there isn't really any available information. He's from Central Point, Oregon, which is not even remotely close to Portland.

He describes his album Something as pop music, but I don't know if that's the way that I would go.  Pop music is almost universally understood on the first listen. While there are some elements of electropop in Lunte's songs, there isn't the necessary pop sensibility to make it truly pop. It reminds me of what a demo version of Thom Yorke's The Eraser would be like. There aren't any hooks and there isn't something that grabs you on first listen, but if you stick with it and keep listening, you realize the creativity that is behind the music.

Some would say that claiming to hear Thom Yorke in this music is absolutely crazy and how could I, but listen to Lunte's voice. When he's using his falsetto and singing one of his non-traditional melodies, you'll hear it. This is like, if Thom Yorke was learning how to make music today rather than 30 years ago. My favorite part of the album though  has to be the synth bass tone that he's managed to create. It's somehow both bright and warm and helps to create an anchor for the often-chaotic vocal arrangements.

The album opens with "Idle Gift" which is infectious song surrounded with playful pop elements. There are elements of Max Tundra in the song and the more you listen the catchier it becomes. One of the highlights of the album is "Nothing". The song gives off an abstract island vibe and warm synth tones along with some fantastic vocal harmonies. The album closes with the delightful "My Heart"  which is full of tantalizing components and in my opinion has the best vocal work on the album.

Overall, this is a very appealing electronic album that is very well put together, has very catchy songs and doesn't take itself to seriously. 

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