Charming – ‘Forgotten Pages’
The Isle of Wight just keeps slapping me round the face with great music. And recently, the six-piece folk/rock band, Charming, have released their album, Forgotten Pages. 
And I’ll open by stating that this is a band that can write intense, dazzling lyrics, and then seamlessly weave in perfect music, tempos and (what possibly impressed me the most) harmonies.
‘Broken Doors’ is the first great example of a nice pace and tempo. Each verse feels like I’m listening to a folky-sea shanty, and which then culminates in bitchin’ chorus. I’d have to say, this is one of those tracks that when I hear, I can see their performance on a main stage of a music festival. And saying that, the perfect close to their set would be ‘Lost in Isolation’ – as it is simply entrancing.
If I had to describe this band, I’d probably tell somebody to think of a non-Irish Mumford and Sons with a female vocal. And like many folk/blues/country bands – it’s the storytelling of the lyrics that steal your attention. This is clear from tracks like ‘That’s What We Are’. An example of the powerful, sentimental lyrics from a section of the bridge is below;
Take you places, we’ll all play our parts,
Throw away the thoughts, the days must go on.
The stages we act on are falling to pieces,
The pictures we’ve taken are deformed by creases.
It’s also a credit to Emma Johnson’s vocal abilities, as she holds your attention – not only though the track – but through the entire album. 
However, as I stated in the introduction, the vocals do not take away from the instrumental talents. They work together seamlessly, and the band showcases this by breaking up the album with instrumentals they’ve listed as ‘Chapters’. Ironic, seeing as I said this band makes you feel like you’re being told a story, and these do carry you from one “Forgotten page” to the next.
‘We Will Be Blessed’ is the track that steals the limelight. A fantastic combination of nice harmonies, sweet lyrics, PERFECTLY utilised guitar accompaniment and a gentle, yet powerful rhythm from bass and drums. There is no right mood you have to be in to listen to this track. It’s the flawless example of what great music the Isle of Wight can produce.
Overall, you can hear that this band is based on an island. The chilled out rhythms of the riffs make for effortless listening and reflect Island life perfectly. From car journeys through the countryside or walks along the coast – this album can complement your day perfectly. The entire album is available for direct download right now from http://charmingmusicuk.bandcamp.com/ for just £7.99. Some might say that’s a bit steep for an independent band, but I assure you, it is worth it.
And make sure you keep yourself posted with Charming on their pages:
- Facebook – Charming Music UK
- Twitter – @CharmingMusicUK
- http://charmingmusicuk.bandcamp.com/
