In search of new music: Barbara
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Musings on the byways of popular culture
Musings on the byways of popular culture
by 44 Comments
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This is what using the bloody box does for you. @mod-team-2 please delete the other post. Full text here….
My search for new music in 2024 lead me to the last Gary Crowley Saturday evening show on Radio London. A real shame that such an advocate of new music has lost his platform. He left with a bang and left me with a new band to discover, Barbara.
The song Gary played was Waiting Outside Alone a single from late 2023. Which instantly got me intrigued. Now if I’d been on time to see Haircut 100 back in May then I would already have been acquainted with Barbara as they were the support.
A quick Google which isn’t completely straightforward when looking for “Barbara” (Barbara the band works š) lead me to their website and their Patreon which is a window into the world of how young bands make their way in the industry in 2024.
“As a completely independent band, our existence depends firmly on the generosity of spirit from soon-to-be ‘Barbarettes’ around the globe. One of the easiest ways you can support us is by picking up a CD, or a lovely slice of merch from the ‘Barbara Larder’. If you want to feel even more invested and essential to our progressive pop cause, then you can join our Patreon/Ko-Fi page. Patreon will give you access to a wealth of extra goodies, exclusive content carefully curated by yours truly. Ko-Fi is simply a little tip jar! We thank you in advance for all your kind words, support and smiles.”
Henry & Jon
From their X profile
“Fun, fantastical and theatrical Add some Barbara the band to your life!ā¦ From Brighton bros, Henry & John Tydeman!”
They look very young have a band to supplement the singer and keyboard playing brothers.
There’s real Sparks aesthetic about them. I found 9 tracks on Spotify and each one is wonderful. If like me you grew up in the 70s you’ll love the disco references and classic guitar swooshes of bands like The Motors or Pilot. The OTT drama of ELO and yes a bit of Sparks too.
If you really cut your pop teeth in the 80s there’s some China Crisis keys, the kitsch of Culture Club, the quirkiness of We Might Be Giants and the innocence of The Lotus Eaters. I’d love to hear them cover The Associates. Their cheeky charm reminds me of those 1982 TOTP performances.
Into the 90s now and if you remember those halcyon days imagine the style of Pulp with the dress sense of Wheezer. The lyricism of Blur and the raw enthusiasm of Dodgy. All the humour and musicality without the anger or threat.
The 2000s and you can hear that warmth of Keane and the drama of Franz Ferdinand and even Mika? If you remember and loved The Feeling’s 12 Stops and Home as many of us do then that is what I hear most vividly in the music of Barbara. Uplifting power pop. Wonder Barbara.
Luckily for you dear reader I don’t know enough of the 2010’s except to say if any one of the 9 songs I’ve heard were used to advertise a Honda Civic we’d all be driving one. They’re touring with Paul Weller this year. I won’t be late this time.
So there we have it as Gary Crowley leaves Saturday nights with the greatest of gifts to me. A band called Barbara. It’s fitting that as we all remember Annie Nightingale I share this as a reminder of the power of the DJ who loves their music and loves to share it even more.
Dave you have referenced all of my favourite artists from the various decades here.
I will go and investigate.
Let me know what you think
This is my favourite track of theirs
Master Narrative
Lovely stuff. I got hints of Divine Comedy and Lilac Time as well.
Talking of Googling difficulties, they weren’t at all the Barbara I was expecting when I saw the thread title. That would be my favourite chanteuse…
Merci Beaucoup @mikethep!
What a stupendous track!
Yep I get the Divine Comedy but I don’t know Lilac Time well enough. Any recommendations?
@dave-amitri kept forgetting…this is the sort of thing I had in mind.
Start at the beginning. The first three Lilac Time albums (1987 to 1991) are fab and were compiled as ‘Compendium: The Fontana Trinity’ in 2001.
The fourth, Astronauts, originally came out on Creation and was announced as the next Needle Mythology release years ago, so who knows when it will ever actually arrive.
There have been eight more albums since and they’re all worth hearing – not a bad outcome for the bloke who left Duran Duran just before they became famous.
I can ‘help’ if required.
Which reminds me… I must check in with the AW Lilac Time correspondent, Paul Wad.
A pedant writes: Compendium is a compilation based on the period of the first three albums rather than reproducing them in their entirety. However it remains essential for all the extras, not least the transcendent 12″ version of You’ve Got To Love.
All of the Lilac Time albums are brilliant except Return to Us. Even that’s a very good record by normal standards.
Sorry, yes, clarity is important in such matters.
I particularly like Looking for a Day in the Night, which I still think of as fairly new, but is now 25 years old.
Yeah that was kind of a comeback for TLT after Stephen had been solo for a few years – at one point just using his surname, much to the consternation of those now googling the Warwick Avenue Hitmaker.
Mike, Moose and Steve this may appeal…
*Rubs thighs*
It’s a great album, including the extras.
There were some nice mixes of Dreaming at the time, hope they’re included.
@mikethep that is beautiful and more up my street than the Barbara of the post. They are okay but very derivative to my ears. Not much in the way of new ideas.
āDerivativeā not many musical acts that arenāt post 1969. For me itās how they interpret the influences. These guys are a breath of fresh air
I concur with Steve. Ća, c’Ć©tait ravissant.
Well, Dave, I really agree with @mikethep about the band choosing a name which will make life difficult for them.
But I am very grateful to you for bringing this band to my attention, That single is quite superb.
Sometimes it just takes one song for me to realise that this is band for me.
Master Narratve just hit the spot!
Glad you liked it KFD. That was exactly how I felt after hearing the Waiting Outside Alone on Gary Crowleyās radio show
I like this band Dave.
In my mind they sound how Jellyfish would have sounded had they been English.
High quality Pop.
Yes the band name is naff but they arenāt the first band to have a naff name
The seem to have it all going on. The name is odd in the age of Google. Maybe a beloved family member or they’re fans of Carry on?…
Luckily for me, I was on time to attend the Haircut 100 show in York in November, and was therefore blessed to witness the Barbara live show, which as you may suspect, echoes and illuminates their recorded sound with a fabulously talented live band; exquisite harmonies of the
type unique to siblings; quirky yet memorable songs; and charisma to burn, creating an instantly endearing and winning stage presence. I was so enthused that I ordered the EP the next day, asking if they would be so kind as to sign it. Reader – not only did they do so, the order arrived
having been packaged with great care and attention to detail, with a personal message and a handful of ephemeral items such as vintage cigarette cards which reflect their eccentric and highly engaging approach. Such little extra thoughtful touches do a lot to create a genuine connection
between a band and their audience, and I hope efforts like these will generate more support for a band that has such substance and charm.
I remember reading a review of the HC100 tour in one of the national papers, and the reviewer was equally highly taken with, er, Babs and predicted great things for them.
Vintage cigarette cards! What a great touch! A band who know how to make a connection with their fans, @Black Type!
I just looked at their You Tube channel. Very entertaining.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrcSx94JE_4x0gIUrWvyJAg
Along with the videos for their singles, there are several cover versions.
Here’s their Instagram page.
https://www.instagram.com/barbaratheband/?hl=en
Lovely stuff. I was going to order the EP today. Very excited for what arrives now. Your description of the live experience makes me feel even worse I missed them. I’ll definitely put that right sone time soon…
Very good…definite shades of Pugwash, ELO and Jellyfish. I also hear Buggles, not an influence you’d expect to hear in 2024. I’m interested to read that they’re supporting Weller…I wonder if he’s heard them? I wouldn’t have thought they were his sort of thing at all.
Re Weller this could be a Style Council video… Maybe he does recognise something of his younger self in there?
Where’s that stately home? I recognise it, but I can’t place it.
Of course, it is Stanmer House near Brighton poly (as was).
Sounds a lot like The Feeling to me. That’s a compliment, by the way.
Yep, that’s what really drew me in. It’s all very 12 Stops and Home
Thatās probably why I was not taken with them.
I donāt see the similarity.
The Feeling? Low quality pop music reminds me of that hyped female band Damp Leggings os something
Damp Leggings? They did that song about the Davenport.
Christ, I thought it was horrible, smug & knowing pop bollocks, erm not for me then sorry
Nice tweet from the band, acknowledging Daveās praise, I see. Me, Iām afraid Iām more with Gardener, but they are very popular with my chums At the Barrier: https://atthebarrier.com/2023/04/18/barbara-the-at-the-barrier-interview/amp/
Lovely. Thanks @retropath2 Really good to read. Especially as they don’t float your boat. Bands like this who are clearly trying and not following the crowd must be celebrated surely.
Divided opinions and thatās to be expected
Absolutely agree about bands who are trying to do something different. Great to see people going against prevailing styles.
Another Barbarette here.
Excellent šš»
Apologies for reposting a tweet but I can’t seem to do photos via Imgur…
Fab!