Travis Caudle

A new local release with worldwide scope. These heartfelt songs rise from simple, catchy beginnings until they are soaring, stadium worthy epics. Catchy, heartfelt and engaging, this album is professionally produced and well deserving of a listen. Travis - 78 Records

You may not have heard of Western Australian singer/songwriter Travis Caudle yet, but I’m guaranteeing you that he will be the name on everybody’s lips before too long. His debut solo album ‘Signals’ is a magnificent album that reveals him as the next big thing in the Australian music industry. 'Signals’ is a brilliant album that left me completely blown away… I instantly fell in love with each track and couldn’t listen to the album enough. Caudle has so much talent on show that you yearn for more once the final track was finished. The great thing is that the producer (The Church’s Tim Powles) simply gets the best out of Caudle, and when somebody’s best is great, you know you are in for something special. ‘Live This Down’ reveals the terrific singing voice of Caudle while ‘Signals’ turns your typical American Indie rock style into an amazing sound that is a joy to listen to. ‘Change Your Mind’ takes us into an eerie-pop area, while you can’t help but get images of U2 when you hear the great rock track, ‘All About’. Caudle’s music maturity is on show when he pulls off a sweet ballad like ‘I Know’ without even a hint of cheesiness, and that sweetness repeats itself on ‘Somewhat Grey’ (which again showcases Caudle’s amazing vocals). It might be a big call but tracks like ‘In Your Presence’ and ‘Out Of Your Depth’ capture the elusive sounds of bands such as Travis or Coldplay, while ‘More’ and ‘On A String’ see Caudle take a chance with some frighteningly good experimental rock. There are sounds on these tracks that most rock artist would only dream about. The album then finishes off with two more really good rock tracks; there is ‘Rise’ and also a very dark ‘From You’ which got quite a work out on my stereo, it was so good I had to listen to it over and over. Travis Caudle is one of the most promising artists that I’ve heard in a long time. If you a fan of good Australian music then your collection isn’t complete without a copy of ‘Signals’ on your shelf.
- http://www.mediasearch.com.au/music/cdreviews/traviscaudle-cd

It’s quite possible that if you live outside of Western Australia you may not have heard of The Woodenelves. None the less, they are causing quite a stir in the Australian music community with the recent release of their debut album Trips Between Worlds.

Before the release of the album, two prestigious awards had already been handed out to the Perth band including the rock/indie category of the Australian Songwriters Association’s National Songwriting Contest as well as being a joint winner in the contemporary pop/dance category. With positive reviews from listeners coming in on Triple J’s Unearthed, it seems like the band are getting the recognition they truly deserve.

Despite these recent successes, it hasn’t all been easy for The Woodenelves, explains singer Travis Caudle.

“We have quite a bizarre story where two of us actually recorded the album before the other two band members came on board, so we’ve kind of done things backwards in a way. We basically lost two band members very early on in the piece, but Jonathon (our lead guitarist) and I felt that the album was ready to be made, so we threw ourselves into that before rounding out the band again.”

That was over two years ago. Since then, the four members of The Woodenelves have toured extensively throughout Perth and rural Western Australia.

The band’s debut album was recorded in Sydney and produced by drummer of highly acclaimed Australian band The Church, Tim Powles. On top of the recording of their debut album and touring, The Woodenelves also scored a spot as the ‘House Band’ on Rove Live last year.

“Being on the show came pretty early in the piece for us from a national perspective, so it was an amazing opportunity for us to just get our name out there.”

Following the show, the band toured with ex-Superjesus singer, Sarah McLeod on her national tour.

It is hard to place The Woodenelves into a particular genre of music. With a diverse rock sound, Trips Between Worlds verges on being epic, capturing a very new atmospheric vibe. Even the band they themselves did not know until recently where they fit in.

“We just really sought to make an album we were passionate about. It wasn’t until the time came to release the album that we even really thought about what genre it might fit into. Diversity is really the key thing we’re finding that people like about the album and what makes it different; the fact that they can be listening to a rock song and then a more intimate, stripped back track within the one album.”

Though the band list acts such as Coldplay and U2 as their biggest influences, The Woodenelves have a very distinct and unique sound. The lyrics are honest and heart-felt, though songwriter Travis Caudle admits there is not that much depth in the initial song-writing process.

“I don’t tend to write with anything in particular in mind – the music just comes to me. Sometimes I can look back and think a song may have been linked to a particular experience I’ve gone through, but even when that’s the case I feel they generally are about feelings everyone can relate to.”

So far, the band have only toured around in and around Perth in support of their new album, but Caudle is enthusiastic at the prospect of going abroad perhaps with fellow Western Australians, Eskimo Joe.

“Touring with Eskimo Joe would of course be fantastic – they have a sound that’s really resonating with a lot of people at the moment and to soak up some of that inspiration and learn from them would be incredible. We are looking forward to doing more shows in the months ahead. We are also really looking forward to touring the east coast of Australia as soon as we can and venturing out to some places we haven’t been to yet.
We’ve got a new residency at a great venue, so we’re focusing on that, as well as looking at opportunities in the US.”
- www.thedwarf.com.au

by Grant Joslin | Sunday, August 30

With the friendship and guiding hand of Tim Powles of seminal Australian act The Church, West-Australian native Travis Caudle gently and thoughtfully graces the airwaves with his debut solo album. A cool atmospheric mix of modern singer-songwriter guitar based pop with healthy dose of mellow meditative rock, Signals has the vibe of being grown in the studio, after months of writing at home on an acoustic guitar, allowed to flourish under the wing of Powles.

The start and end of Signals is exceptionally concentrated and softly captivating, the track listing cutting a clear path through an introspective landscape with the production developing Caudle’s single outwardly explorative voice and viewpoint. The earnestness and sober quality of the lyrics offset by the clear and dreamy instrumentation echoes the sonic qualities, textures, and tranquil moments of bands such as Coldplay and U2. The sentiment and tone of the tracks rides a fine line toward happiness and comfort, but reside in a halfway house of being bitter-sweetly triumphant while a wholly meditative and reflective current pulses through many of the songs.

The harmony of opposing the solemn and life-affirming lyrics with bright and melodic tonal qualities in the music gives rise to a cohesive yet spacious soundscape. If Caudle were not adverse to the idea, I could totally see his film clips featuring him on the top of some Australian mountain range belting out his tunes as the camera sweeps over head. Yeah, you know that kind of clip, big in the eighties, anyways…

It’s of interest to note that Caudle is currently touring Signals on the road across Australia, performing the songs solo on acoustic guitar without a backing resembling his fully fleshed out studio efforts. Listening to the album it’s straightforward to draw a line and imagine how each track is transcribed and stripped to its essential foundations.

The songs are structured around the nucleus of the vocal and melodic delivery with smooth and unforced backing via guitar. At times the album displays a concentrated and opaque atmosphere, this drops back and reveals room for the simple nature of guitar and voice to breathe and radiate.

Chiming and reverb soaked guitars ring out on many of the songs which border on elegiac and sorrowful, however its Caudle’s clear vocals that standout with their mature and sincere delivery that solidify the overarching tone of stability and honesty flowing across the album.

File alongside the songwriting of Pete Murray, and David Gray, and the aural meanderings of The Church, and Sarah Blasko. Alongside: not between or below. Caudle resides in his own space as a songwriter and performer in his own right.

http://www.thedwarf.com.au/nd/albumreviews/signals_travis_caudle
- http://www.thedwarf.com.au/nd/albumreviews/signals_travis_caudle

This reviewer was able to catch the action at Elbo Room for performances by Travis Caudle (Perth, Australia) and local favorite, Riot Inside.

Singer/songwriter Travis Caudle instantly had SouthSide liking his smooth (accented) vocal style (nearly sounding like another famous singer/songwriter Neil Diamond) accompanying his acoustic guitar sound. He thoroughly impressed her with the heartfelt emotions as well as the awesome falsetto heard in his voice sometimes emphasizing dramatic angst and frustration. The music certainly matched the dynamic of his vocals in which the audience felt and heard lively rhythms and energy. The lyrics in most of his songs were simplistic observations of the world around him i.e., life, love, friends, etc. SouthSide suggests listening to You Only Got Yourself to Blame (for the passion heard in Travis' voice and music), Getting Back to Who You Are (even while dropping his voice to a tenor/baritone range, his falsetto will melt your ears), Singles (a song about re-inventing yourself in which the lyrics presented a vivid picture in this reviewer's mind) and Live This Down (plenty of strong emotions projected that SouthSide felt what Travis was feeling). She also enjoyed his acoustic rendition of Men At Work's Overkill (as featured on TV's Scrubs). This reviewer highly recommends checking out this Australian singer/songwriter Travis Caudle wherever his travels in the US take him next or visit him in Perth if you live in the land down under (extra 10 SouthSide points if someone can tell her who did that song reference). For more information, visit www.traviscaudle.com.au or www.myspace.com/traviscmusic.
- http://southsideonthetown.blogspot.com/

This reviewer was able to catch the action at Elbo Room for performances by Travis Caudle (Perth, Australia) and local favorite, Riot Inside.

Singer/songwriter Travis Caudle instantly had SouthSide liking his smooth (accented) vocal style (nearly sounding like another famous singer/songwriter Neil Diamond) accompanying his acoustic guitar sound. He thoroughly impressed her with the heartfelt emotions as well as the awesome falsetto heard in his voice sometimes emphasizing dramatic angst and frustration. The music certainly matched the dynamic of his vocals in which the audience felt and heard lively rhythms and energy. The lyrics in most of his songs were simplistic observations of the world around him i.e., life, love, friends, etc. SouthSide suggests listening to You Only Got Yourself to Blame (for the passion heard in Travis' voice and music), Getting Back to Who You Are (even while dropping his voice to a tenor/baritone range, his falsetto will melt your ears), Singles (a song about re-inventing yourself in which the lyrics presented a vivid picture in this reviewer's mind) and Live This Down (plenty of strong emotions projected that SouthSide felt what Travis was feeling). She also enjoyed his acoustic rendition of Men At Work's Overkill (as featured on TV's Scrubs). This reviewer highly recommends checking out this Australian singer/songwriter Travis Caudle wherever his travels in the US take him next or visit him in Perth if you live in the land down under (extra 10 SouthSide points if someone can tell her who did that song reference). For more information, visit www.traviscaudle.com.au or www.myspace.com/traviscmusic.
- http://southsideonthetown.blogspot.com/

TRAVIS CAUDLE, the frontman of successful and award winning band THE WOODENELVES, has released his first solo album, In your Presence, in a brave but definitely worthwhile move.Travis is best served live to appreciate his impressive vocal range and passion for his art and I was lucky enough to catch him live recently at the Wagin Woolorama. Strange venue? Absolutely. Stranger to performing? Absolutely not.

Having played hundreds of gigs some of which were alongside the likes of Jimmy Barnes, Kasey Chambers and Tim Rogers, and invited to perform at the Canadian Music Week in Toronto, Travis Caudle is obviously a well seasoned performer.
in Your Presence was inspired by losing a friend a little over a year ago, wishing they were still around and realising the need to appreciate people while they are in your life and not waste time being distracted. These sad undertones are often surprisingly masked by toe-tappingly catchy beats and chillout grooves, making for an honest, fervent and engaging performance driven by strong melodies. Armed with just an acoustic guitar, and a laidback, very Aussie attitude, Travis Caudle is charming, friendly and approachable - all the things a performer should be - and it served him well as the, albeit small, audience was drawn in.

His passion for flirting with the genres of ballads, melodic pop and rock is addictive and did well to showcase the versatility of his powerful, precise voice and talented acoustic strummings. Travis's well constructed and executed lyrics, professionally balanced melodies and appropriate use of dynamics and precise tone means In Your Presence creates a casual atmosphere and is so easy to listen to. Needless to say, Travis Caudle had this reviewer exercising serious boogeying restraint and wishing she knew the words better.
Obviously enjoying his work, his smiles are audible in his music and why wouldn't they be? Talented Travis Caudle is well on his way to being a highly successful musician worthy of a place on the world stage, and I personally wish him well. If I had to be picky, my only suggestion would be to perhaps experiment with a few harmonies and include additional varied instruments to complete the whole experience. I also understand, however, that this is tricky to do as a one man band. Travis Caudle's full album Signals will be available later this year & is touring nationally through South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia and New South Wales.

I recommend checking him out at www.myspace.com/traviscmusic or at www.traviscaudle.com. - Spaceship News (WA website & newsletter)

TRAVIS CAUDLE, the frontman of successful and award winning band THE WOODENELVES, has released his first solo album, In your Presence, in a brave but definitely worthwhile move.Travis is best served live to appreciate his impressive vocal range and passion for his art and I was lucky enough to catch him live recently at the Wagin Woolorama. Strange venue? Absolutely. Stranger to performing? Absolutely not.

Having played hundreds of gigs some of which were alongside the likes of Jimmy Barnes, Kasey Chambers and Tim Rogers, and invited to perform at the Canadian Music Week in Toronto, Travis Caudle is obviously a well seasoned performer.
in Your Presence was inspired by losing a friend a little over a year ago, wishing they were still around and realising the need to appreciate people while they are in your life and not waste time being distracted. These sad undertones are often surprisingly masked by toe-tappingly catchy beats and chillout grooves, making for an honest, fervent and engaging performance driven by strong melodies. Armed with just an acoustic guitar, and a laidback, very Aussie attitude, Travis Caudle is charming, friendly and approachable - all the things a performer should be - and it served him well as the, albeit small, audience was drawn in.

His passion for flirting with the genres of ballads, melodic pop and rock is addictive and did well to showcase the versatility of his powerful, precise voice and talented acoustic strummings. Travis's well constructed and executed lyrics, professionally balanced melodies and appropriate use of dynamics and precise tone means In Your Presence creates a casual atmosphere and is so easy to listen to. Needless to say, Travis Caudle had this reviewer exercising serious boogeying restraint and wishing she knew the words better.
Obviously enjoying his work, his smiles are audible in his music and why wouldn't they be? Talented Travis Caudle is well on his way to being a highly successful musician worthy of a place on the world stage, and I personally wish him well. If I had to be picky, my only suggestion would be to perhaps experiment with a few harmonies and include additional varied instruments to complete the whole experience. I also understand, however, that this is tricky to do as a one man band. Travis Caudle's full album Signals will be available later this year & is touring nationally through South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia and New South Wales.

I recommend checking him out at www.myspace.com/traviscmusic or at www.traviscaudle.com. - Spaceship News (WA website & newsletter)