Kyle Caudle – Devices
Kyle Caudle is no stranger to the sonic creativeness of crafting, arranging, and releasing original songs into the world. For the past two decades, Caudle has played in several bands, most notably playing bass in the Bayonets – a group he formed with his younger brother Caleb, where he also served as the band’s principal arranger. During his downtime from the road, Caudle honed his craft as a songwriter and after several releases of original music over the years, he is back in the saddle with his latest release, a four-song EP called Devices. Even with just four songs, Caudle immerses his listeners in an irresistible landscape that combines folk, rock, and country into a sound that is distinctly his own.
Kicking off the collection is “Saluda,” a song named after the Saluda River that runs through South Carolina where Caudle lived for a period in his life. The song is like entering a colorful painting of a Southern scene as times flows on like the river through life’s many seasons. Caudle’s delivery and instrumentation conjures nostalgic emotions that leaves you longing for a time and place that you may have never even inhabited.
The second song on the EP shows Caudle tapping into more country territory with the mandolin-driven, “Lights.” The song embodies a celestial unity with Caudle and his fellow musicians. Utilizing a call and response style with super tight harmonies, “Lights,” is as uplifting as it is thought-provoking. Caudle challenges us to consider our own mortality and the love lights that we have shining down on us in our lives.
Caudle’s retrospective songwriting really shines on the title track, “Devices,” which deals with how we sometimes allow our devices to prevent us from giving ourselves to others and creating connections. It is a concept that we all struggle with at times throughout our lives; the challenge of giving up something of ourselves in order to propel us forward. Closing out the EP, is a tribute to the region that Caudle calls home – the North Carolina foothills. From the aroma in the air to the pace of life, “Foothills Forever,” does a fine job of establishing what it is like to live in the region that has fostered so much great music over the years. This collection by Caudle is a sure indicator that he will soon carve out his own legacy within the rich lexicon of foothill musicians.
Access Kyle’s music here: https://linktr.ee/kylecaudle
