Secret Transit

The Brooklyn-based duo Kaiser Cartel, made up of Courtney Kaiser and Benjamin Cartel, have been creating luscious harmonies and infectious melodies together since 2004. Both write, sing, and play multiple instruments on the albums and on-stage. Courtney is a former member of John Mellencamp's band and classically trained vocalist, while Benjamin is self-taught musician. Each had their own solo projects well underway when they met, but the pairing was an unmistakable success. Secret Transit, their sophomore effort produced by Matt Hales (aqualung) and Ben Hales, carries the same intimate feel that attracted listeners to March Forth, but with an expanded notion of home. Secret Transit is an invitation to a universe of experience - akin to attending a family dinner or sharing a long road trip - one of those moments that allows you to see what really makes someone who they are. The new music has a cyclical feel to it, alternating between dark and light. Benjamin and Courtney feel that the new album reflects the way they each have grown as individuals in the time since the last album came out. The new record was recorded in the middle of the night in Blackheath, London, in an old church built in 1839. The church is surrounded by a green meadow that no one is allowed to build on or dig into because legend has it that many black plague victims were buried there. The echoes of the church, the subtle genius of Matt and Ben Hales production techniques and experiments with ambient sounds never compete with the souls of the songs, but rather complement the mood and add depth. Secret Transit shows the maturity of two artists who are constantly working on their craft and inspired by new experiences. The new album has a more ethereal mood, with more complex, layered sounds than the last one, but the best loved aspects of Kaiser Cartel remain, with unforgettable harmonies, charming melodies and songs so catchy you'll find yourself singing along even if you don't know the words.