Artist: Barbarossa Album: Bloodlines Bitrate: 231kbps avg Quality: EAC Secure Mode / LAME 3.98.4 / -V0 / 44.100Khz Label: Memphis Industries Genre: Indie Size: 74.67 megs PlayTime: 0h 42min 49sec total Rip Date: 2013-08-10 Store Date: 2013-08-09 Track List: -------- 01. Bloodline 4:38 02. Turbine 2:28 03. Butterfly Plague 3:42 04. Pagliaccio 3:24 05. S.I.H.F.F.Y 5:04 06. Battles 5:59 07. The Load 4:04 08. Saviour Self 5:18 09. The Endgame 4:49 10. Seeds 3:23 Release Notes: -------- These days, melancholic singer/songwriters seem to be emerging at a rapid pace. With great artists like Passenger and Greg Laswell expressing bare sentiments through wonderfully arranged music, the genre is as ripe and rewarding as ever. On his second LP, Bloodlines, Londoner James MathΘ (aka Barbarossa) earns his place alongside his contemporaries, as he bleeds his heart and bares his soul with grace and fragility at every turn. ItÆs a thoroughly touching record. MathΘ first broke onto the scene in 2008 with his well received debut, Chemical Campfires, which featured a lot of acoustic guitar. In comparison, he sees Bloodlines as a reinvention in which keyboards, drum machines, and analog synths play a larger role and help him bring ôelegiac electronic anthems, dusted with huge spectral gasps of reverb and soul-wrenching organ melodiesö, to life. In addition, the album was inspired by some very diverse influences, including Massive Attack, Pharrell Williams, Sufjan Stevens, Jurassic 5, and Vincent GalloÆs film Buffalo 66. The album opens with weepy organ, subtle beats, and MathΘÆs fragile voice, recalling the forlorn creations of the great Neverending White Lights. Lyrically, he discusses how fear and aversion to challenges will keep you from feeling hope, which is a universal and stirring sentiment. ItÆs a fantastic way to start. ôTurbineö is next, and itÆs essentially an electro-rock jam with occasional phrases. Actually, it sounds a bit like a lost Portugal. The Man track. Freer and more energetic than its predecessor, it reveals a new side to MathΘÆs artistry. With its entrancing verse and simple yet catching chorus, ôButterfly Plagueö is easily one of the best songs here. The way it builds from lone percussion to a luscious, dreamy, aural landscape is magnificent, as is the way his pained voice brings each poignant word to life. MathΘ effectively condenses the entire emotional spectrum that accompanies loss and longing into this track, which is a masterful achievement. ôPagliaccioö, by contrast, is danceable and relatively upbeat, with programmed rhythms taking center stage. Later on, ôS.I.H.F.F.Y.ö is purposefully drawn out, like a requiem about forgiveness and selflessness. ItÆs profound yet sparse, allowing the listener to get lost in its world. The albumÆs lead single, ôThe Loadö, deserves favor due to its gripping backing track that once again blends electronic and rock timbres with bittersweet melodies, creating a devastating combination. ThereÆs also ôSaviour Selfö, a waltz featuring a retro guitar arpeggio and plenty of valuable space. ItÆs very atmospheric, as is the closing duo of ôThe Endgameö and ôSeedsö. Both are fairly straightforward, but theyÆre still quite heartfelt and calming. As reserved as it is remorseful and romantic, Bloodlines is a moving, grand achievement. While its bleakness and somber arrangements may not appeal to everyone (especially those looking for a superficially uplifting experience), itÆs precisely these elements that make it so special. MathΘ gets right to the center of heartache, insecurity, and the like with sophistication and assurance, crafting a refined collection of sorrowful yet beautiful recollections and lessons that should not be missed.