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Since the late 1990s, Carrie Clark<\/strong> has been a familiar presence within the Hamilton, ON music scene, contributing her bass and vocal talents to myriad albums and live performances by local artists. Most recently, Carrie has become a full-fledged member of alt-country outfit Matt Paxton & The Pintos (now simply The Pintos), whose 2023 EP Tornado<\/em> received international acclaim. However, since 2020 Carrie has been creating her own music, and subsequently released her debut EP, Roll Me Up Integrity<\/em>, two years later. She has now followed it up with Resistor<\/strong><\/em>, a six-track collection that highlights her expansive musical range.<\/p>\n Working with Marco Bressette at Hamilton\u2019s Deadquarters Studio, Carrie called upon many colleagues to contribute to the sessions, but despite the variety of musical voices, Resistor<\/em> adheres to Carrie\u2019s distinct creative vision.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel fortunate to have so many stellar musician friends,\u201d she said. \u201cWe have all played together in so many unique situations, so recording is quite a natural and meditative experience. Marco and I have been friends since we were 16, rocking out in our early original bands.\u201d<\/p>\n Resistor<\/em> lifts off seductively with the atmospheric and semi-spoken \u201cWhat Is Water,\u201d which contains hints of the Hamilton scene\u2019s patron saint Daniel Lanois. However, the song\u2019s main inspiration, as Carrie explained, came from a Bruce Lee quote, \u201cbe water, my friend.\u201d \u201cThe choices we make in any given moment define us, regardless of the choices made in the past, much like the fluidity of water. The calm lake after a storm doesn\u2019t reveal a trace of the waves. You have to look at the surrounding land to discover its effects. The water itself can only be what it is at that moment.\u201d<\/p>\n The intensity on Resistor<\/em> builds from this intriguing introduction. \u201cBetter Than Myself\u201d is a brooding, hallucinatory poem that finds Carrie\u2019s breathy vocals floating over a jarring, reggae-infused rhythm. It\u2019s followed by \u201cTake It To The Wall,\u201d the hardest rocker of the bunch, on which she asserts her independence with Neil Young-esque bravado. \u201cThinkin\u2019 On Breaking My Heart\u201d dials things back slightly, channelling the spooky country of the Cowboy Junkies, before \u201cElectromagnetic\u201d raises the temperature yet again with another haunting late-night excursion, powered by Chris Altmann\u2019s mesmerizing pedal steel work. Carrie said of this song, \u201cThe lyrics really capture how I feel most days. I absolutely believe we can\u2019t fully and honestly excel at the expense of others, but the terrain is hazardous, my brakes are shot, and I have to course correct all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n Resistor<\/em> concludes with the plaintive country number \u201cSide Of The Road,\u201d an entirely appropriate send-off that will surely leave listeners wanting to hear more of Carrie Clark\u2019s highly idiosyncratic perspective on Americana. Still, as she says, she\u2019s learned through experience that music can\u2019t be rushed. \u201cSpending so much time musically supporting other songwriters has given me a uniquely organic perspective on recording; songs should be recorded when they are in season.\u201d<\/p>\n Carrie Clark\u2019s Resistor<\/em> is out now via Down By The Point Records at Bandcamp<\/strong><\/a> as well as Apple Music, Amazon Music and Tidal.<\/p>\n