Description
Richard Barbieri remains one of contemporary music's most distinctive voices
Emerging as a key architect of the late '70s/'80s synthesiser revolution with David Sylvian's art-rock ensemble "Japan", his visionary synthesiser programming expanded the horizons of electronic music & left a lasting mark on artists from "The Human League" & "Duran Duran" to "Gary Numan" & "Talk Talk". His subsequent & ongoing tenure with Steven Wilson's legendary progressive outfit "Porcupine Tree" across albums such as 'In Absentia' (2002), 'Fear Of A Blank Planet' (2007) & most recently, 'Closure/Continuation' (2022) further affirmed his status as one of the most intuitive & unique musicians of his generation.
'Hauntings' is Barbieri's first studio album since 2021's 'Under A Spell', deepening the pensive, dark instrumental aesthetic of its predecessor. A diverse collection of immersive sound worlds, both dark & uplifting in equal measure, 'Hauntings' is influenced by a nostalgia for the past & future & for things that didn't happen yet still manage to haunt the mind & soul. What is real & what is simulation?
The album finds Barbieri at the height of his powers, his deft keyboard & sonic architecture conjuring a shadowy, creeping Lovecraftian atmosphere. The music wanders through the streets of a gloomy lamp-lit Victorian London & drifts into grain-speckled snapshots of Belle Epoque Paris. These journeys into the past are contrasted with nihilistic but euphoric forays into the future, "Traveler" & "A New Simulation" bristling with the itchy modern anxiety that often runs through his best work. Contrasting the sound designs & electronics of Barbieri, the album features performances from renowned musicians Morgan Agren (drums & percussion), Percy Jones (bass guitar) & Luca Calabrese (trumpet).
CD edition is presented in 6-panel digipack / Deluxe 2-disc, CD/Blu-ray edition is presented in DVD-sized digifile packaging & includes the studio album on CD & a Blu-ray disc of Dolby Atmos, 5.1 surround & hi-res stereo mixes of the album / 2LP 45 RPM edition is presented in gatefold packaging & pressed on classic black vinyl
CD Tracks: Snakes & Ladders ( 05:33 ) / Anemoia ( 05:09 ) / Victorian Wraith ( 03:02 ) / 1890 ( 03:58 ) / Artificial Obsession ( 05:07 ) / Paris Sketch ( 05:47 ) / Perfect Toys ( 03:48 ) / Traveler ( 05:41 ) / Reveille ( 01:54 ) / Last Post ( 02:23 ) / A New Simulation ( 04:38 )
CD CD / Bluray Set Tracks: Snakes & Ladders ( 05:33 ) / Anemoia ( 05:09 ) / Victorian Wraith ( 03:02 ) / 1890 ( 03:58 ) / Artificial Obsession ( 05:07 ) / Paris Sketch ( 05:47 ) / Perfect Toys ( 03:48 ) / Traveler ( 05:41 ) / Reveille ( 01:54 ) / Last Post ( 02:23 ) / A New Simulation ( 04:38 ) / Snakes & Ladders ( Dolby Atmos / 5.1 Mix / Hi-Res Stereo ) ( 05:33 ) / Anemoia ( Dolby Atmos / 5.1 Mix / Hi-Res Stereo ) ( 05:09 ) / Victorian Wraith ( Dolby Atmos / 5.1 Mix / Hi-Res Stereo ) ( 03:02 ) / 1890 ( Dolby Atmos / 5.1 Mix / Hi-Res Stereo ) ( 03:58 ) / Artificial Obsession ( Dolby Atmos / 5.1 Mix / Hi-Res Stereo ) ( 05:07 ) / Paris Sketch ( Dolby Atmos / 5.1 Mix / Hi-Res Stereo ) ( 05:47 ) / Perfect Toys ( Dolby Atmos / 5.1 Mix / Hi-Res Stereo ) ( 03:48 ) / Traveler ( Dolby Atmos / 5.1 Mix / Hi-Res Stereo ) ( 05:41 ) / Reveille ( Dolby Atmos / 5.1 Mix / Hi-Res Stereo ) ( 01:54 ) / Last Post ( Dolby Atmos / 5.1 Mix / Hi-Res Stereo ) ( 02:23 ) / A New Simulation ( Dolby Atmos / 5.1 Mix / Hi-Res Stereo ) ( 04:38 )
LP 2 LP Set Tracks: Snakes & Ladders ( 05:33 ) / Anemoia ( 05:09 ) / Victorian Wraith ( 03:02 ) / 1890 ( 03:58 ) / Artificial Obsession ( 05:07 ) / Paris Sketch ( 05:47 ) / Perfect Toys ( 03:48 ) / Traveler ( 05:41 ) / Reveille ( 01:54 ) / Last Post ( 02:23 ) / A New Simulation ( 04:38 )
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