The Barr Brothers
Sleeping Operator
Release Date: Oct 7, 2014
Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Record label: Secret City Records
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Album Review: Sleeping Operator by The Barr Brothers
Great, Based on 2 Critics
Based on rating 9/10
On this Montreal-based Americana outfit's delicate, immersive sophomore album, pleasures abound. Between Brad Barr's shrugging vocals and impressionistic lyrics, Sarah Pagé's inventive harp, Andrew Barr's cerebral drumming and multi-instrumentalist Andres Vial's lush contributions, there lies a kind of virgin territory in progressive folk music. It's a space in which Delta blues can mingle with Western African rhythmic structures, in which traditional British forms can be shot through with Appalachian energies and Asian melodies, where soft confessional folk songs might nod to Celtic themes while dropping allusions to Blind Lemon Jefferson.
Based on rating B-
When The Barr Brothers made their folk rock debut in 2011, they secretly cast their listeners under a spell of harmonic vocals, careful strings, and obscure found objects. Like Local Natives, they put out an ambitious first record that stood on thorough craftsmanship, and after a three-year gap they had fans wondering if they would ever hear more. With their second album, Sleeping Operator, The Barr Brothers live up to expectations, if falling a hair short of their debut.
'Sleeping Operator'
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