Brad Barr
The Winter Mission – Secret City Records
Ah, now this is something a bit special. A record made how they used to be but taking full advantage of today’s tech wizardry in production. Brad Barr plays some beautiful licks here on instrumental opus The Winter Mission. And there’s a touch of the avant-garde too. This is music in its most pure raw form. It may be acoustic but that doesn’t mean it isn’t occasionally raucous. ‘Your Dad’s Awake’ will remind listeners of a certain age of a stripped down Gong – remember them anyone? Elsewhere you get hints of 70’s rock intros, trippy in a way and yet punchy rather than fully mellow. Putting this out in 2022 has allowed Barr to ensure every nuance is crystal clear and balanced. Yes vinyl is warm but it can also sound woolly, especially on such an intricate set of songs. Hearing those strings vibrate and the notes blend together so crisply is a wondrous thing. Themed around the magic of the mystical number 216 this is a complex record that also works for a more casual play. If you enjoy something a bit left field then The Winter Mission is definitely for you.
The Barr Brothers/Brad Barr – Facebook
Review by Gary Trueman