Corey Webb : l’inconnu et l’écosystème Hors actu Posté par Lorette Hehn le 2010-11-11

Voici un parfait inconnu : 22 ans, Américain, il vit et compose à Mount Pleasant qui jouxte Charleston (Caroline du Sud), dans une grande maison de bois blanche et verte, entre live oaks (chênes au feuillage persistant) et estuaire, ou dans son kayak sur l’océan. Son père, capitaine dans la marine marchande, vit dans une île minuscule qui se détache à l’horizon, depuis le porche de la maison. Détails significatifs pour Corey Webb (c’est son nom), qui a réussi à placer sept fois dans une interview d’une minute sur la radio locale : "Je suis inspiré par l’écosystème". Son écosystème est là, dans Goodnight Bridge : guitare, trompette, clavier et rythme fleuve compris, avec de jeunes musiciens de Charleston aux instruments. L’écosystème l’inspire, d’accord,  mais aussi l’air de la nuit, dans un Ghost déchaîné par des substances liées ou non à l’air marin, avec banjo et percussions électriques. Parfois,  l’air du passé souffle et ranime une voix planante et tourmentée des années 70 comme dans Planet Airplane, vous allez reconnaître. Quant à Tides of War,  c’est une mise en musique de fin de western, le générique défile, on visualise, entre les cordes de la guitare et du banjo, Clint Eastwood revissant son stetson, chevauchant au couchant pour l’éternité. Ou alors, c’est une fin guillerette de la guerre de Sécession, dont le casus belli s’est produit à quelques miles de Charleston. Avec Ma’ame Scarlett pendue au bras de Corey, prête à fuir avec lui les Yankees en kayak. Après une enfance formée au chant lyrique, Corey Webb découvre le banjo, son premier instrument, à 14 ans. La guitare et le piano viennent ensuite. Il compose et produit son premier disque en 2005 : l’opus s’appelle Myriad mais il ne veut plus en entendre parler. Il semble renier aussi le deuxième, The Greater Good Movement, composé en 2006 pendant son premier semestre universitaire en astronomie. Mais Corey endosse pleinement la paternité de Bodies Full of Magic, paru en 2009. En préparant les premières chansons de ce qui devait être un troisième album solo, il a formé un groupe du même nom que le disque. Du coup, les cinq morceaux initiaux au piano, guitare et banjo, se sont enrichis : trompette, basse, batterie et une voix féminine. La pochette de Bodies Full of Magic représente le groupe face à la maison blanche et verte de Mount Pleasant, parmi les chênes evergreen. La maman de Corey, Patti, une infirmière qui joue de la flûte traversière, a coproduit le disque. Voilà pour l’écosystème. Et maintenant que ses 999 (pas un de plus !) amis Facebook s’activent sur la promo de ses anciens morceaux (témoin ce petit portrait), Corey Webb se prépare à changer d’écosystème. Exit l’étiquette d’artiste local. D’abord, lui qui a débuté avec l’orchestre de Caroline du Sud et référencie près de 70 concerts sur son site, où il interprète notamment Ray Lamontagne (Empty en live en video sur coreywebbmusic) ou  King of Spain de Kristian Mattson, s’est produit en fin d’été dans les bars de NYC. Ensuite, ce diplômé en musique (théorie et composition) de l’université de Charleston, vient de s’inscrire à l’université de Londres. Enfin, Corey Webb, qui écoute beaucoup Eminem, prépare un disque de... rap ! Londres et un nouveau disque,  ce sera l’occasion sans doute de quelques concerts européens.  L’occasion de se faire connaître : à suivre… http://www.coreywebbmusic.com

Corey Webb's double-EP with Bodies Full of Magic
In the Jukebox
by T. Ballard Lesemann


Corey Webb / Bodies Full of Magic

Bodies Full of Magic

(Awendaw Green)

In Bodies Full of Magic, local songwriter Corey Webb seems to have a pretty cool band on his hands. As demonstrated on the new self-titled collection — a double/split EP packaged on one single disc — Webb and his bandmates are talented musicians playing an odd array of instruments.

The band Bodies Full of Magic mostly features Webb on acoustic guitar and lead vocals alongside vocalist Kristin Abbott (who sings lead on a few tunes here), keyboardist Alex Hennessey, drummer Brett Nash, and trumpeter Karin Bliznik.

"In meeting some very optimistic folks to support my upcoming record, I found the people who would become Bodies Full of Magic," Webb writes of his initial efforts to document these songs in the liner notes. "After six months of playing and recording, we decided to produce a joint album, which features my reckless abandon as a solo artist, and a refreshing transition to the hypnotic collaboration that is Bodies Full of Magic."

They might refer to themselves as an indie-style pop/folk group, but their mix of styles is difficult to define.

The first five tracks belong to Webb the solo artist (with accompaniment from some of the Bodies and a few special guests, including violinist Yuriy Bekker and percussionist Tim Giles). There's impassioned acoustic guitar troubadour stuff in the syncopated and anxious opener "Ghost" and the rich-versus-poor follow-up anthem "Russian Roulette." Webb's morose anthem "Crumble" clearly puts his nasally and expressive singing style out front, supported by Bekker's dual violin lines. With the full band and Abbott's vocals, the dramatic love song "Leh Naih" is sort of the bridge from "side one" to "side two."

The last seven tracks are the full-on Bodies doing their full-on band thing. Musically, things are all over the map, though, from Abbott's unnervingly torchy "Spaceman" (a moody distant cousin to The Byrds' "Mr. Spaceman"), to the sweeping, piano-driven "Desdemona," which features one of several beautiful trumpet solos from special guest Bliznik.

Clever but confusing, it's hard to figure out exactly what some of these songs are really about. Webb and Abbott cram an awful lot of lyrical mischief and seemingly grand themes into this music, and it's hit or miss. Some songs suffer slightly from distracting arrangements and extra production tricks. What it lacks in continuity, however, it makes up for in exuberance. As this young band finds its way into the next batch of songs as a well-honed collective, they could very well storm the scene with some of the most experimental indie pop of the times. (bodiesfullofmagic.com) —T. Ballard Lesemann

Tags: Corey Webb, Bodies Full of Magic, CD Reviews, Local Bands

Warning: The creativity and musicianship on this CD will blow you away.
Pick up a copy today!
"The Greater Good Movement" is a very creative and impressive singer/songwriter CD. The songwriting on this CD strikes a nice balance of being original with changing styles, while being melodic with interesting counter melodies. The production and musicianship are pro quality, with the guitar work being especially noteworthy. Some of the songs and lyrics have a theatrical flavor to them. One of our favorite tracks is "Huckleberry Me" with its Flamenco/latin-style guitar riffs nicely welded into an adult rock song. The CD even takes into a more folk-traditional banjo song with "Leh Naih." "Wonderful Again" has the element of an adult rock hit, with a very memorable chorus. If you enjoy singer/songwriter adult rock/pop artists such as Jason Mraz, you will enjoy this CD. Pick up a copy today.

-RadioIndy

Local music

Corey Webb - "The Greater Good Movement" - (Independent) (B+)

I always love it when some poor sap on the next bar stool laments the state of music in the Lowcountry.

No sooner does the sad sack start whining, when I swing into action.

Carrie Ann Hearst, Leslie, Steve Hit Mike, A Decent Animal - I could go on and on about great local bands.

To anyone who says that Charleston doesn't have an original array of musical offerings, I say you're simply not listening.

The latest bullet in my clip of ammo who used to silence the naysayers is Corey Webb. The local musician's independent release, "The Greater Good Movement," is a wonderful mix of folk, world and acoustic rock, with a touch of stage musical flair. The track I keep going back to is "Carnivala," a playful tune that sounds as if it should be played by a medieval minstrel. Other great material includes Middle Eastern-tinged "Huckleberry Me," as well as the almost all instrumental "Leh Niah."

The tune "New World Order" sounds as if it comes from some clever off-Broadway show. According to his bio, Webb is studying music theory and composition. If this is the sort of stuff that is floating through his head, Webb would be better off teaching the same.

Download These: "Carnivala," "Huckleberry Me," "New World Order"