The Barr Brothers - 'The Barr Brothers'

The Barr Brothers - Montreal quartet led by siblings Brad (songwriter/guitarist frontman) and Andrew (drummer) play an esoteric mix of ethereal folk, rueful blues and Americana shot through at times with a razor-sharp rhythmic edge and a kitchen's sink of odd, and oddly perfect instrumental noises (hand made "peanut dish banjo" anyone?)...the music began in the duo's home studio as playful and experimental off-shoot // Release: The Barr Brothers (September 27, Secret City) // Sounds like: by turns moodily atmospheric and starkly outlined with bold lines, these ten, amazingly diverse songs fall somewhere between the intelligent roots music of The Low Anthem (with whom they've toured) and ingratiating and inventive -- and intimate -- indie folk/pop...harpist Sarah Page (who was discovered as her music seeped into Brad's next door apartment) gives the quieter tracks a delicate, almost story book charm...

Quote: I think what any of us has learned, whether it’s from Paul Simon or Miles Davis—these people that have constantly surprised themselves and surprised their audience. So it’s been a path laid down before by artists who have shown us to follow the gap and there will be a body of work in the end that makes sense and people, hopefully, will go along with it. // What we like: from the opening notes of the eerie acoustic shuffle "Beggar In the Morning" you intuitively sense you're in for something dramatic and special..."Old Mythologies" is reminiscent of classic Simon and Garfunkel, sweet harmonies and harmonica break riding atop an intricately plucked acoustic guitar and toe-tapping beat...

 

The Barr Brothers - "Beggar In the Morning" (from The Barr Brothers)

The Barr Brothers - "Old Mythologies" (from The Barr Brothers) 

Photo Credit: Andre Guerette