By SláinteSteve
First off I feel the need to disclose up front that I’ve been watching and listening to Rob Barrick perform for a few years now so I may be a wee bit biased, but this recording has slipped by me somehow. That makes this fresh and new to me.
Here we have eight songs from Rob, assisted by some other wonderful world-class local talent.
Rob kicks it off lively with “The Unreel”, an up-tempo (almost rock) tune with a snappy drum beat and featuring Eddie Parente on violin and some cool horns. From there he takes the listener into what I feel is a nice aural journey through waltzes, new-age(ish) and contemporary pop-Celtic vibes, some traditional flavors such as “Chloe’s Passion” and “King Orpheo”, (though even here he adds his original touches with the help of Elizabeth Nicholson.)
Rob has a unique style in that he is just as adept and skilled a bass player as he is on the many types of bagpipes he plays. His pop and rock influences are evident and are at times eclectic, yet inventive (he himself tells me “it’s not traditional” and even admits to it being “a little out there”) but it all works together nicely. “Weird Sunday” might fall under Rob’s definition of “out there”, but “Peace Pipe” on the other hand, is a beautiful, haunting pipe piece that is reminiscent of some sort of Lament.
He concludes the journey with “Session One/Session Two”, an upbeat and cheery tune featuring Hanz Araki on flute and Cary Novotny on guitar.
Rob has been playing and performing for many years in at least three bands, “The Rose and Thistle Band”, “New Shilling” and “Stringed Migration” to name just a few, and owns and operates his own recording studio and production Company, BarBarrick Music.
“Aye Tunes” and other albums by Rob are available from CD Baby, BarBarrick Music, and yes, of course, through “iTunes” ☺
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