Just More Barzin
Toronto singer-songwriter Barzin can be summed up quickly. Not because there isn’t much there or because he is one dimensional. It is because sometimes the musical persona is a persona in itself. Quoted from Barzin’s own site the music is “Slow and melancholic, introspective and confessional”. This easily and quickly encompasses the beautiful and atmospheric music from Barzin. All of a sudden it seems like Slowcoustic HQ just found it’s new poster band…
Barzin, is in fact the name of guy pictured above (actually Barzin Hosseini), but it is also the name of the “project” itself. While there has been a bit of a revolving cast of participants in this project, there are 3 recurring characters circling Barzin at the core – Mike Findlay, Suzanne Hancock, and Tony Dekker (of Great Lake Swimmers fame). This quartet and colleagues have created a few albums to date and we are expecting another release just next week. The new album due out on Feb. 16th is entitled “Notes To An Absent Lover” and from what I can tell is a mix of old stuff and new stuff combined for the release. In fact, one of the few tracks included below actually does double duty in appearing on a previous EP and has been updated and rerecorded for next week’s release. The new album has the Barzin feel with its trademark minimalism and hushed vocals, but there is a bit more added to it; in the introduction of some up-tempo orchestral elements. Overall, it follows the same path that Hosseini and crew have lead us on previously, and this is the reason it is a great album. I for one am enjoying it immensely.
Enjoy some previous Barzin to get you in the mood, with the track “Queen Jane” being the track that has been released previously on the “Just More Drugs” EP and is included on the new album. Also of note the track “The Dream Song” from the new album was previously on the Hinah release from a few years back, just updated and lengthened I believe (the hinah is currently sold out, so maybe that is a good thing it is included on the new album!).
Barzin
“Let’s Go Driving” (mp3)
“Just More Drugs” (mp3)
from “My Life In Rooms”
(Weewerk)
“Queen Jane” (mp3)
from “Just More Drugs”
(Monotreme Records)
“Pale Blue Eyes” (mp3)
“Past All Concerns” (mp3)
from “Barzin”
(Monotreme Records)
Visit Barzin on his/their Website, Label Site and MySpace. Be on the lookout for tour dates in Europe starting in March, then it is back to Canada for April – but seems to unfortunately be only in the Eastern half of the country. I guess the cowboys here in Calgary won’t get a chance to catch the pedal steel in “When it All Falls Apart”…
~Smansmith
Additional comments powered by BackType