News
Charlie Barnes: ‘More Stately Mansions’ stream released!
“Truly promising…” - Drowned in Sound
"...music that moves you in ways you didn't even know was possible..." - Gigwise
"Graceful, soothing songwriting..." - Clash
Charlie Barnes has released the title track to his forthcoming debut album More Stately Mansions as a stream. The album is released via Superball Music on 11th May 2015.
More Stately Mansions premiered on Clash Magazine's website, who described it as "Both personal and epic...". You can stream the track now via the Superball Music SoundCloud page.
“I'm so proud of this song. It's one of the most bonkers things I've ever written, but without being obtuse." explains Charlie. "It's still fundamentally just a pop song with a melody you can whistle. Unusually for me, the lyrics came together very quickly and easily. I don't even remember writing half of them. It's nothing groundbreaking really; early twenties contemplation of your place in the world and why we do the things we do, how the hell to keep your head above water and all that."
The video for album track 'Sing To God' premiered on Gigwise and you can now watch it via Superball Music's YouTube channel.
'Sing To God' is also available to stream via the Superball Music SoundCloud page.
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:
3rd May – Handmade Festival - Leicester
12th May – Brudenell Games Room (Album Launch) - Leeds
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.