CAROLINE - MABE FRATTI

"the UK band’s debut accomplishes something nearly impossible for a largely instrumental post-rock album: to project urgency and timelessness simultaneously."

caroline is an eight piece, based in London. Started by Jasper Llewellyn, Mike O'Malley, Casper Hughes in early 2017, caroline initially evolved out of weekly improvisation sessions. Bringing together shared influences in, and experiences of playing, midwestern ‘emo’ guitar music, Appalachian folk, minimalist classical and various forms of dance music. caroline now includes Oliver Hamilton (violin), Magdalena McLean (violin), Freddy Wordsworth (trumpet, bass), Alex McKenzie (clarinet, saxophone), Hugh Aynsley (drums, percussion), alongside the three original members.

The group spent a year and a half playing privately, without a project name. Reiterating, deconstructing and re-building the same small handful of songs over and over again, the group slowly expanded their on-stage members before playing their debut show as caroline in 2018. Expansive singles ‘Dark blue’ and ‘Skydiving onto the library roof’, as well as performances at End of The Road, Green Man and supporting the Microphones, have built them a strong cult following. caroline’s self-titled debut album will be released by Rough Trade Records on the 25th Feb 2022.

Mabe Fratti 

Mexico city based, Guatemalan cellist Mabe Fratti recently released debut her LP, Pies Sobre la Tierra (Feet On The Ground) on new experimental label Unheard of Hope (Peter Zummo, Military Genius). Reconciling Mabe’s steps throughout her musical past, the debut LP features pop and experimentation that reflects her time working amongst the improvisation scene in Mexico City. 

Mabe Fratti’s sensibility is the triumph of experimentation over technical dominion of an instrument. The experimentation of sound with feelings, with existence itself, with an open heart, letting herself to be transformed by what she lives and hears. This is what has led Mabe Fratti from Guatemala to Mexico City. From the creation of pop songs to free improvisation, from the academy to noise, from collaborations in ensembles and duos to the profound personal journey that is reflected in her solo works. 

“Cobweb-delicate, stunningly beautiful experimental pop.”