Caruso
Kitten
The label's second reissue of the output from North Carolina's Caruso, a.k.a. Matt DeBellis, is 'Kitten', his third full-length, recorded in 2003. The album's sonic connection with the UK is immediately clear on first listen; the guitar tones and thick layers of reverb reference numerous bands from London labels Creation and Too Pure, both seminal fixtures of the '90s English alternative scene. Lyrically, the album is an unapologetic ode to gay love. DeBellis' vocals bring a nuanced intimacy to the record that's equal parts nascent sexual power and vulnerability.