The McCarricks are Cellist Martin McCarrick and Violinist Kimberlee McCarrick.
The Music - dark, evocative, compelling, hypnotic, unsettling.... yet strangely beautiful, drawing influences from Shostakovich to the Aphex Twin with a helping of Bernard Herrmann.
The live performance sees The McCarricks playing their instruments in front a film screen where Shoppers in a Japanese supermarket mix with 1950's slow-motion contortionists via buildings that harbour strange sexual desires, while a motley array of circus sideshow freaks act out a nightmarish fairytale resulting in a surrealistic finale. The imagery captivates and leads the viewer into the imaginations that make this beautiful music.
The initial idea - to create new dynamic soundtracks for old silent movies shown in tandem with their music was hindered by increasingly restrictive industry rules on film usage. Undeterred, the McCarricks enlisted the talents of independent filmmakers to create with them new films specifically tailored for their music. The result is a startling display of abstract imagery and sound, set to lead the viewer through a series of different dimensions and emotions.
The McCarricks began their project in 2002, debuting with a show at The Horse Hospital in London on Halloween of that year. Previously Kimberlee was a professional violinist with the Kansas Symphony Orchestra, whilst Martin was guitarist and electric cellist with Therapy? Prior to that Martin had worked as musician/writer and string arranger, touring, recording and creating a large back catalogue of work with the likes of Siouxsie and the Banshees, This Mortal Coil, Dead Can Dance, Kristin Hersh, Marc Almond, Skunk Anansie and Therapy? to name but a few. After two years spent living between the USA and the UK they settled in London.
They have worked extensively as studio and live musicians, individually and together - as instrumentalists, string/orchestral arrangers, and as soundtrack designers/composers. They are currently working on music and films for future performance as well as writing and recording material with other artists, encompassing a diversity of genres from contemporary classical, to rock, and including Dance and Art installation. Collaborations include Kristin Hersh, Sinead O'Connor, Gary Numan, Marianne Faithful and the Patti Smiths ‘Meltdown’ concerts at The Royal Festival Hall in London.
Many thanks to the following people for their help and inspiration. PG LOGO. Kollectiv, Miki Takahashi, Jo Ueno, Derrick at The Massive, Mark English, Helga Slovenia, Ralph Tillier, Bob, Allesandra Margarito, Doug Hart, Jon Klein, Billy and Kristin, Mikala and Dan Taylor, Lynn Schoene, The Horse Hospital, Jon Klein, Mojave Boy.