Charlie Barnes - Geekk

Charlie Barnes' Myspace page gives an interesting method of answering the age old 'influences' question - giving recipe instructions on how to "build your very own Charlie Barnes". Giving ingredients such as a pinch of powdered Sigur Ros and 500g of Thom Yorke, it gives people new to Charlie's music a long list of reference points to compare him to. The fact that this album is in no way weakened by comparison to these names is testament to the quality and ambition of Barnes' songs.

Opening with the twinkling intro of A City Built and flowing straight into first song proper Architects, the first thing that is clear is how unafraid of Barnes is of letting his ideas breathe and develop naturally. Despite the layers of electronics on this first tune, it still feels very organic as Barnes paints an image of building a city by "painting roadmaps with your fingers". Continuing with the organic theme, Bedroom is built on layers of beatboxing and harmonising, creating a lush backdrop to his elaborate lead vocal.

The title track uses some neat changes of tempo, embellishing the deceptively simple tune at its heart. Snakes, Ladders & Aeroplanes is perhaps the most intense moment on the record, its climax seeing Barnes pretty close to busting his lungs to get his message across. Throughout the album the kitchen sink is most definitely thrown in, with barely any song going without some epic strings or layers of electronics, and with the possible exception of the slightly overwrought Bluebell, the combinations of texture always work well. Closer Final Call bucks this trend nicely, leaving its delicate tune gorgeously sparse, particularly near its end as Barnes implores us to "Just let me fly today".

This is an incredibly accomplished and ambitious first album, and one hopes Barnes continues to develop his songwriting and fulfil the ambition shown on this wonderfully assured debut.

8.5/10

http://www.charliebarnesmusic.co.uk/