On April 14th, Outside Music releases Canadian singer-songwriter Matthew Barber’s album 'Ghost Notes'.
Recently, 'Ghost Notes' was nominated for Juno’s Best Roots/Traditional Solo Album.
The Ottawa Express raves, “...Barber writes tunes as pure and natural as the raging, bruised carnal sentiments that drive them. Although his voice is mellow gold, his congenial melodies are sharp.” On May 13, 2009, Barber will perform at Brooklyn’s Union Hall opening up for Jill Sobule.
Watch "And You Give" video from 'Ghost Notes':
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Matthew Barber
Matthew Barber
Recorded and produced by Matthew Barber over six days at Bathouse Studio in Ontario, the songs on 'Ghost Notes' were cut mainly live-off-the-floor and entirely to analog tape.
Of the recording Barber states, “The Bathouse is a clubhouse style studio set in an old manor overlooking Lake Ontario, about a half hour from Kingston. We all lived in it for a week and barely left it. The arrangements had mostly been worked on ahead of time during various demo stages in the year or so prior to recording. Some tunes like “And You Give,” however, turned out unlike anything I had imagined going into the studio.” Barber continues, “I wanted the songs to hang together in a loose story of two lovers, from the perspective of one of them. While there are serious moments on the album and a feeling of emotional conflict, I feel as though it is ultimately hopeful, and ends on an uplifting note with 'Our Voices.'"
Barber’s musical career began while attending Queens University in Kingston, Ontario. He later graduated from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario with a Masters in Philosophy. While attending McMaster he gained support from the committed Hamilton music community. Barber’s solo debut 'Means and Ends' was released in 2003 and attracted the attention of Warner Music Canada. He subsequently released the EP 'The Story of Your Life' in 2004 and his major-label debut 'Sweet Nothing' in 2005. Sweet Nothing’s single “Soft One” charted #5 on Canada’s adult contemporary radio. During this time Barber toured Canada with his band The Union Dues and as a solo performer.
Recently Barber completed a sold-out tour of Canada with his sister Jill Barber and a 5-week tour of Australia appearing at some of Australia’s biggest festivals including Woodford Folk Festival and Peats Ridge.
There is a positive review on The Huffington Post, “the music never panders on Ghost Notes whose best songs merge old school Harvard Square with a hipper Washington Square Park vibe”.
Some trivia: for Hockey fans, Matthew Barber was the goalie for the Rockers at the annual Juno Cup pitting musicians versus ex-NHL stars. This was the first year that the Rock beat the former players with Matthew stopping the shot in the shoot out. (as CBC radio Tweeted)
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