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Charlie Barnes ‘More Stately Mansions’ out now!
“Truly promising…”
- Drowned in Sound
"...music that moves you in ways you didn't even know was possible..."
- Gigwise
"Graceful, soothing songwriting..." - Clash
"...soulful lonesome melancholic singing with grandiose alternative rock bombast" - The Independent
Charlie Barnes has released his debut album More Stately Mansions via Superball Music.
If you'd like to listen to the album in full, then head over to The Independent who are hosting an exclusive track by track stream.
The video for album track 'Easy Kid premiered on The Line Of Best Fit who described it as "...a rock-solid, emotional track that zaps you in the chest". You can watch it now via the Superball Music YouTube channel.
You can also stream album title track and single, More Stately Mansions, which premiered on Clash Magazine's website via the Superball Music SoundCloud page. The video for album track 'Sing To God' premiered on Gigwise and is available to watch on YouTube and stream on SoundCloud.
Although this is Charlie Barnes, it’s not a solo project, Charlie Barnes is very much a band in every sense of the word. Musical inspirations range from Edith Piaf to St Vincent to Mew and it’s this rich tapestry of influences that have given More Stately Mansions diverse sound ranging from sweeping melodies and crescendoing vocals (“Sing To God”) to quieter, more introspective moments (“Balloons”, “Ghosts”) and joyous moments of pure alt rock (“Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth”). It’s this explorative sound that sets Charlie apart from the array of bland singer songwriters currently on the scene.
The album was produced by Steve Durose of Oceansize. The band are all massive fans of Oceansize which is prevalent from their precise musicianship and the more cerebral elements of the album.
Drowned in Sound and Prog Magazine have already noted Charlie’s talent and he’s already supported bands like Secret Chiefs 3 and opened for Vessels and The Twilight Sad as a solo artist.
To help promote the album, Charlie was also asked by Leeds based coffee roastery North Star to create his own signature blend. He spent a lot of his early twenties playing solo in coffee houses around the UK and Europe, whilst working part-time making coffee back home in Leeds and it seems to have paid off.
You can catch Charlie Barnes live at the following dates as he tours the UK and Germany:
13th May – Eagle Inn (supporting Vennart) - Manchester
23rd May – Way Back When Festival - Dortmund, Germany
24th May - Maifeld Derby - Mannheim, Germany
More Stately Mansions is bold and elegant, proving that Charlie Barnes is a strong contender for one of the most exciting new acts of 2015 - a true, rare talent.