Parissa Bouas & Carl Cleves
check out Carl's music at www.carlcleves.com & www.myspace.com/carlcleves
Influences
We love so many types of music, very eclectic!! A few current favourites include: Les Triplets of Belleville - Ben Charest; Milton Nascimento; Jean Gabon, Bob Dylans' latest stuff; Tom Waits; Sara Tavarez, Caetano Veloso; Llhasa; Dimi Mint Abba; Joni Mitchell; Kavisha Mazzella; Lior; Sheva; Fat Belly Cat; Zulya;Tarika; gillian Welch...and so many more!
Sounds Like
Folk with ethnic/world music influences
4 award winning albums - each a little different from the other. Visit our website to hear more songs from the earlier 3 albums.
ABOUT THE LATEST ALBUM 'Turn back the tide"
“I first heard the Hottentots in the mid 90’s, through their award-winning debut album ‘A Small World’. One thing I’ve noticed about them over the years is they seem to be getting better and better. Their latest CD “Turn back the Tide” does nothing but confirm this.
This album touches so many different musical styles that it seriously undersells the music to simply label it as ‘folk’. Essentially, this is acoustic music –exceptionally well written music and lyrics, beautifully arranged and superbly performed by Carl Cleves and Parissa Bouas. They are joined by many fine musicians, such as Rory McLeod, Doug de Vries and Peter Grayling but no track seems cluttered. There is spaciousness that makes for a fine listening.
It’s hard to find favourite tracks on an album of this calibre but “The Bethlehem Bell Ringer” with its heartfelt plea for peace and Parissa’s sublime vocal on “I’ll Be with you Tonight” stand out. For pure energy and fun the opening track “Party at my House” is a must.
Anyone with an interest in good acoustic music with an international flavour won’t be disappointed. I’d also strongly recommend their energetic and passionate live performances for any budding performer.”
Debra Manskey in Australian Songwriter Magazine
ABOUT THE ALBUM 'Graceful'
"What makes the contemporary music scene so exciting outside the corporate bottom-line (lack of musical) philosophy is that extraordinary freshness can be drawn from diverse genres that on the surface may sound either old-hat or conversely alien to conventional western music-making. The naysayers might contend that true originality might seem to be lost in a great big musical pastiche-fest. Well I beg to differ.
The Hottentots are a duo, Carl Cleves who sings and plays guitar and Parissa Bouas who also sings and plays various percussion instruments. They are based in Byron Bay and make frequent appearances at the various folk festival around the country. If they could be said to have a base style it stems from the Gaelic / Irish axis which connects us all to our history, whether you like it or not. But it doesn’t end there. In fact it’s just the beginning as essential Australianness is put through a variegated multi-cultural blender hat demonstrates how all music can be honestly linked if treated sympathetically.
The opener to their new CD, the aptly titled "Graceful" is a very good indication of the Hottentot’s modus operandi, acoustic guitar and flute that could be Northern Brazil, laidback African beat, Martin Tucker’s kora flourishes that expertly and musically demonstrate the spritiual links between West Africa and Ireland, Andrew Sisters section with downtown bluesy harmonica and Martin Tucker again, this time giving the number a zydeco tang with a melodica. Yet the whole thing sounds strangely Australian without sounding silly.
What makes the Hottentots truly outstanding is that they have fashioned 15 strong melodies (yes, folks that alien concept that distinguishes cogent commentary from empty rhetoric) that generously accommodate calypso, country, Irish folk, Madagascan music as the wonderful instrumental Welcome Home demonstrates, Zimbabwean mbira colours, Latino Afro-Beat, rap or Brazilian forro. In fact I refer the reader to the gypsy / jewish intro to Zefinha, brilliantly emoted by Parissa before turning into a scorch the paint of the wall forro with wailing melodica and compulsive rhythm. The lyrics are something else again dealing with issues of loss, homecoming, mischievous dogs, the oppression of the little man (us) or love in a beguiling, natural manner, be it with Carl’s warm, cheekily rustic tones or Parissa’s superbly dulcet ones. The contributions of the well-chosen accompanying musicians can hardly be underestimated either, whether it’s the sublime insouciance of jazz virtuoso John Hoffman’s flugelhorn on Back in Byron Bay or the Celtic beauty of Cleis Pearce’s violin on the haunting ballad Little Fox. Diverse Graceful may be, but the fact that it is the work of the one entity is never in doubt as the CD closes with Mabo, a sprightly and genuinely exciting reggae number with some scorching brass and sax work from ace Brazilian band Skank.
If there’s any musical justice Graceful will be voted the Australian World Record of the year in any opinion poll you may care to name. Unreservedly recommended."
Richard Jasiutowitcz, Diaspora World Beat magazine
Australia’s definitive coffeehouse couple weave stories with songs, touching a deep vein of humanity that leaves audiences moved, uplifted and crying out for more. Their music can’t be easily labelled. Whilst it’s true to say there is an ethnic flavour, there is also a strong folk/roots component, that combined with their singer/ songwriter style, delivers a unique musical experience that skirts many boundaries.
In 2009 they embark on their 7th European tour, to promote their new CD "Australian Stories" recorded by cult German songwriter label ‘Stockfisch Records’.
Carl and Parissa have recorded 5 CD’s together and Carl has 4 solo CD’s. They have headlined at all major Australian folk festivals and toured internationally to Europe, Latin America and Madagascar. They have won many Australian awards including MUSICOZ- BEST FOLK SONG, ASA- BEST LYRICS, NCIEA- BEST ALBUM, ASA- BEST COFFEEHOUSE.
Two of Australia’s finest singer-songwriters, Flemish born nomad Carl Cleves and Greek-Australian songbird Parissa Bouas meld a satchel of styles to “create a wonderfully textured quilt of beautiful and meaningful songs.“ Carl’s unmistakable guitar style is utterly captivating, whilst “Parissa has a voice that would aggravate angels with its beauty.”
“Anyone with an interest in good acoustic music with an international flavour won’t be disappointed” Debra Manskey, Australian Songwriter Magazine
“If you’ve seen Carl & Parissa live you will have a good idea what to expect: warmth generosity, humour and fantastic musicianship. “ J. Rigby, Folk Alliance Australia
Parissa and Carl have established themselves as notable songwriters,
recording artists, performers and workshop leaders. There songshave appeared on many compilation CD’s, the national ABC Radio playlist, corporate videos and been sung by choirs across the country.
Carl Cleves, originally from Belgium is an excellent guitarist, singer and storyteller. Carl’s adventures have included stints as an antelope trapper in Uganda, relief worker in cyclone struck India, recording star in Brazil, radiobroadcaster and ethnomusicologist in Africa and fisherman in the South Pacific. Carl’s first book, ‘Tarab: Travels with My Guitar” published July 2008 by Transit Lounge. His recent solo CD’s are: All Alone 2007; Tarab 2008. www.carlcleves.com www.myspace/carlcleves.com
Parissa is an extraordinary singer and songwriter who finds an emotional context for every genre. In Brazil they named her ‘Patativa’, after a bird renowned for its singing. Daughter of a Greek sailor, she inherited his love of Latin music and honed her formidable percussion skills whilst touring throughout Latin America with an Andean Folkloric group. Parissa has written some classic, catchy songs that people sing around the country, such as “Mother’s Song” , “I’ll Be With You Tonight” & “My Spirit”. In 2000 she co- wrote the anthemic “Put Your Hand in Mine” for the Woodford Millenium Fire Event Choir of 700 voices, which she also conducted. The performance before a crowd of 20,000 was beamed across Australia and to 1.6 billion people in 61 countries.
At festivals and music camps across Australia, Parissa’s vocal and
rhythm workshops are highly sought after. Recent camps include:
Daylesford Singers Festival VIC 2008, Folkworx WA, RhythmSong WA; Jamberoo Folk Music Camp NSW. When not touring, Parissa runs a local choir and has a
busy private studio and a Afro Latin dance band - Diaspora Latina.
Carl and Parissa have stuck some trouble with the name, The Hottentots, in europe and shall be phasing that out over the next few years.
“If they could be said to have a base style it stems from the Gaelic / Irish axis
which connects us all to our history, whether you like it or not. But it doesn’t
end there. In fact it’s just the beginning as essential Australianness is put
through a variegated multi-cultural blender that demonstrates how all music
can be honestly linked if treated sympathetically.”
I'm really excited to have uploaded to myspace my first
video! It's called 'A Day At The Country
Show'. I'd love you to check it out and
let me know what you think.
Hi, I was at the lismore music workshop in June and I just wanted to say how incredible I thought Parissa was. You are absolutely amazing. You took me into a whole new world of music for those moments I was in a class room with you. Thank you for the experience. Do you have any albums of your own?
So nice to meet you recently Parissa, it was great to be with you n the circle! Hope all is well up there and beyond. I'm in Sydney studying Hypnosis....another story. Love Boak
Hi there, sorry we couldn't get up to see you while you were in Germany, We will be in Byron next month..so maybe.. anyway, wishing you a wonderful and successful 2008, blessings....
Hello,Clarissa&Carl, Thanks for the add. I love your music very much and I wish you all the best for 2008 and a lot of success. Greetings from Holzminden Karlheinz Fey
hello Carl & Parissa, Last time we saw you guys play was at the Byron Market....Ah brings back memories:) :) :) It was a beautiful summer day - as usual- joy and wonderful music filled the air. Now living here in Germany we see you are playing in Cottbus.. will try and make the concert in Nov. Love & good vibes from Robyn & Thilo..In dresden, Germany...
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