Carried in Sound is the sixth studio album by English duo Smoke Fairies. It was released in November 2023 on the band's Year Seven Records label.
Background The album was the first to be recorded and produced by the band at home, and was crafted by the duo, with support from "long-term collaborator, Neil Walsh, adding wistful viola parts that are overlaid to create a one-man orchestra that blend perfectly with the duo’s guitars to create a lush sound" - Silent Radio.
During the evolution of the record, Smoke Fairies shared works in progress and ideas with fans via their Patreon site, even asking them to vote for an album title. Prior to the album launch, Smoke Fairies released "Sticks and Stones EP", which included the title track, "Come to my Mind" and "Part of it All".
In an interview with Americana UK, answering a question about the record and her working partnership with Davies, Blaimire replied, "we called it 'Carried In Sound’ and I think there is a feeling we’ve been carried by music through our lives, and carried along by it in our friendship". Speaking to The Line of Best Fit, Davies reflected, "Although the album has themes of sadness on there, it's looking at those things from a place of strength".
In a review for KLOF Magazine, Mike Davies wrote, "Carried in Sound is an emotionally evocative album textured musically, vocally and lyrically with shadows and light, like a comforting flickering candle in the depth of darkness and storms; it’s easily the best thing that the Smoke Fairies have ever done".
The band invited their Patreons to be extras in their 'Vanishing Line' music video, which was filmed in the village of Ulting, Essex in July 2023.
A series of record store gigs, concerts and festival performance were held in 2023/24 to celebrate the record.
Carried in Sound was released on translucent orange vinyl, limited edition signed translucent blue vinyl exclusive to Rough Trade, CD and digital download.
Track listing
Chart performance Carried in Sound reached the following chart positions: Chart (2023)PeakpositionUK Independent Album Breakers3UK Folk Albums6UK Record Store15UK Independent Albums16UK Physical Albums53UK Albums Sales54Scottish Top 100 Albums89
Personnel All personnel credits adapted from Carried in Sound album notes.
All songs written by Smoke Fairies Vocals and instruments by Smoke Fairies Viola by Neil Walsh Produced by Katherine Blamire Recorded by Smoke Fairies Mixed by Dan Austin and Ian Davenport Mastered at Metropolis by Matt Colton Photography by Annick Wolfers Sleeve by Nayfe Slusjan Worldwide Management by Doug Hart and Matt Harvey
References