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BARNES, TED - 'PORTAL NOU'

Formats

MORN001 - CD
5050693204020

Details

This summer sees the release of PORTAL NOU, the much-anticipated third album by renowned British musician TED BARNES and the debut release on Ted's own label Mornington Records. Written and recorded between his home on the Kent coast and time spent on the Regents Canal in London, and inspired by the recent birth of his son, the record marks a new phase in Barnes' personal and musical life. Although it still displays some of the melancholia of his previous work, PORTAL NOU, which is Spanish for 'new gateway,' is lighter and appropriately buoyant. Coming after the widely critically acclaimed and characteristically dark second album, 'Underbelly', the new record offers a more optimistic outlook and brings with it elements of humour and a playfulness. Somewhat of a departure for Barnes, the album is also the first to include songs for which he has written lyrics ('All That's Real', 'Dreams & Hopes'), alongside a body of instrumental tracks. It also features an impressive array of guest lyricists and vocalists, many with whom he is a long-term collaborator, including Beth Orton, Gavin Clark (Sunhouse / Clayhill / Unkle), Francoiz Breut (Calexico / Yan Tierson), Dan Michaelson (Absentee) and Kathryn Williams. Restrained yet incredibly powerful, Barnes treats the voice as another instrument rather than the overriding force of a song, and manages to create a hypnotic and absorbing continuity throughout the album. Through the beautifully paired down introduction, 'Singing Glasses', which runs almost seamlessly into the intriguing 'Ghosts in the Cupboard' the listener is drawn into a world of curiosity and adventure. From the enchanting 'All That's Real' 'and 'Caught Out' to the haunting 'Squeezebox', and throughout the consistently mesmerising PORTAL NOU, the listener is made to feel part of a storytelling experience; seduced in the most innocent way by its captivating, filmic qualities. Like the soundtrack to a romantic French film, its deceptively simple melodies and rhythms belie deeper goings on and hint at the beguiling characters hidden within. Combining guitar, piano, strings, double bass, beats and electronics with toy and found instruments, Barnes' genius lies in carefully crafting soundscapes that have a spontaneous charm. With PORTAL NOU and its collision of English pastoral idylls, junk shop cacophonies and Parisian romance, he has once again created a unique musical experience.

Ted Barnes released his first solo album, ?Short Scenes? in 2002 after writing it in periods off from working with Beth Orton whom he had worked with on both her ?Trailer Park? and ?Central Reservation? albums. Released on Narwhal records to critical acclaim it featured Beth Orton and Gavin Clark and instrumentals written by himself and producer Oisin Lunny. After this release he continued to work with Beth on her ?Daybreaker? album and toured extensively. In 2003 he formed the band Clayhill with longtime colleague Ali Friend and singer Gavin Clark and as such has released a mini album and three albums, alongside working on soundtracks for English director Shane Meadows. In 2005 he released ?Underbelly? on Sketchbook Records. A completely instrumental affair, it also received high critical aclaim as did the seven-piece band for their live performances. Ted has recently produced Gavin Clark?s album ?When We Had Faces?, which is also used as the soundtrack to Shane Meadows latest film project ?Somerstown?, a romantic drama due to be released later in the year.