Based in Philadelphia, Carter Fox has been making music with cosmic ambitions and galactic intentions. Known as the Soulful Traveling Spaceman Bassman, the producer, bassist and multi-genre explorer has walked his own path through chill-fi, jazz, ambient and experimentalism. Since the age of 15, he’s been a constant presence on stage and in the studio, touring with R&B legend Freddie Jackson and working with a diverse range of artists from Grammy-winning acts like Leon Huff and Pablo Batista to rising names like Skrillex, OddKidOut and Teddy Beats.
His solo output is just as expansive, with releases on a wide array of respected labels including Biblioteka Records, Chill Moon Music, Chill Space, Mad Dragon and his own imprint Intrepid Fox Music. His sonic vision has long blended jazz-based musicianship with celestial ambiance and lo-fi textures, all set against a backdrop of his passion for astronomy and video games. His track “Cosmic Sunset” hit #1 on Apple Music’s Easy Listening charts around the globe, while “Eclipse” racked up over 2 million streams on Spotify and was featured on several major editorial playlists.
Over the last decade, he’s also released a string of well-received full-length records, while his exploits have earned him recognition in the form of endorsements from Aguilar Amplification, DR Strings and Moody Leather Guitar Straps. Now, he returns with Physics of the Impossible, his most ambitious and personal record to date; a project born out of a creative rebirth after a period in which he feared he’d lost his spark entirely.
It’s an album that reaches for the stars while staying tethered to the groove, a genre-breaking flurry of ambient jazz, funky rhythms and space-age soul. Released via Swedish label Insert Records, it marks his fourth full-length and finds him venturing further than ever into the musical galaxy he’s been crafting for years.
The album is packed with personality, from Carter’s deft bass work and textured production to the contributions of longtime collaborators who help take his interstellar vision even further. Recorded across multiple studios, including the famed Retro City Studio and Carter’s own home setup, it’s a soundtrack for the dreamers, the wanderers and the listeners staring up at the stars, wondering what might be out there.
Kicked off by title track “Physics of the Impossible,” soft key tones are met with the laid back hop of a swung beat as hazy synth swells add dashes of bright sonic hues to the mix. Crafting a smooth jazz-inflected instrumental outing featuring Will Schade’s alluring saxophone leads, it’s a superb slice of Carter’s grooving sound.
“Magical Universe,” featuring the elegant guitar work of Damn Stargazers, follows with the gentle flutter of warm timbres as the snap of mellow percussion and flickers of sweeping textures form a charming soundscape peppered with delicate melodic flourishes wrapped up in immersive sound design. “Saturn Shuffle” arrives with graceful runs of piano notes to cast a dreamy scene while the crisp rattle of drums injects a smooth groove while gritty lead guitar adds a bluesy vibe on this playful jam featuring the talents of Nick Seditious.
Other highlights on the record include tracks like “BOOMIN” featuring Steve Honz, an energetic, funk-charged ride where old school hip hop collides with spacey jazz to deliver an epic musical experience cut with record scratches, dancing piano leads and infectious rhythms. “A New Hope Beyond the Horizon” sees Carter lay down a delicate composition of softly tapped percussion and airy instrumentation, offering an intricate detour from his groove-heavy sound.
“Spiral Galaxy” presents a breezy lo-fi outing of downtempo beats and bright instrumental flourishes while “In Awe of the Universe” delivers a stripped back, lilting sway of gentle clean guitar notes, muted beats and atmospheric textures. “Meteor Storm” closes the album with a brief, one-minute piece of transportive orchestral instrumentation, offering a cinematic finale to the artist’s sensational new full-length release.
Listen to Physics of the Impossible below
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