Barbara

Named after songwriter/producer Barrie Lindsays less-utilized birth name, Barbara is the more personal second album from Barrie. It finds the mellow-toned, delay-heavy indie pop outfit operating as a solo project following the mid-2019 dissolution of the original five-piece lineup. Written, recorded, engineered, produced, and mostly performed entirely by Lindsay, Barbara includes only a handful of tracks with contributions from either Ben Lumsdaine (Mike Adams at His Honest Weight) or Jack Lindsay (her brother) on drums or spouse Gabrielle Smith (Gabbys World, Frankie Cosmos) on additional backing vocals. Fans of 2019s Happy to Be Here will be glad to know that the projects sound is tweaked, not redefined, with Lindsay making her vocals more distinguishable from plushy surroundings without compromising their wispy, daydreamy qualities. Smith inspired some of the songs, which were influenced by Lindsay both falling in love and grieving the loss of a parent. The relaxed, affectionate "Jenny" is a conspicuous tribute to the former condition that incorporates woozy acoustic guitar, slightly overdriven bass, and shimmery organ tones with layered vocals that deliver forward-thinking lines like "I dont know where to love from/Never had to hold myself true to someone" and "Could you love me if you tried?" The more club-leaning "Frankie" works pulsing electronic beats, full kit (by Lumsdaine), and humming synths into a dreamy post-punk topped off by multi-tracked vocals. Even that song feels softhearted and approachable under Barries sway, as does a song with a title like "Bully," whose dulcimer and lap steel guitar add texture to atmosphere without ever sounding quite of an awake world. While harp doesnt appear on the gentle, relatively spare "Harp 2" ("I never looked right but do you love me now?"), it does appear, alongside trumpet, clarinet, and acoustic guitar (and synthesizer) on the brief "Harp 2 (Interlude)," a rare break from effects on an album whose mood and atmospheres continue to linger long after the tunes. ~ Marcy Donelson