I want to discuss Barry Andrews (like that's different from any other day).
This is not my official review of "Cormorant." I haven't had enough listens of the CD yet to create an educated review of the album that would do it and whomever may read the review justice. These are just my observations on Barry Andrews' voice after being exposed to his latest work.
What I have to say
If you prefer the classical noodlings of the opera scene, Barry Andrews is not for you. If you like the incessant technique-ing of vocalists like Celine Dion or Christina Aguilera, Barry Andrews is not for you. But! If you are a fan of uniqueness, creativity, and individuality, you should prick up your ears and heed the call of the Mighty Barry Andrews.
Mr. Andrews possesses something that many supposedly better singers do not: character. It takes character to be a true singer, in my humble opinion, not just a certain kind of talent and a range that can sometimes be heard only by canines and humpback whales. His is a voice that is difficult, if not impossible, to emulate. And, believe me, I've tried. But there's something about the sounds he makes that holds you to the song, whatever song he's singing. His style interprets the lyrics for you and makes each song an entity rather than a simple track on a CD. I've read Shriekback, Stic Basin, and Barry's solo lyrics before ever hearing the songs themselves but, only after I heard Mr. Andrews bring them to life, did I understand the gravity of the song.
From my perspective, he is the heart and soul of Shriekback, and the main reason I even got into the band in the first place.
Barry Andrews' voice is the kind that wriggles under your skin insidiously like a benign parasite, nesting there and spreading out to overtake your system. You don't even know you've been invaded and enthralled until you suddenly realise that, if you're not hearing his voice, you need to very soon. His is that whisper in your ear in the night when you're almost asleep. That whisper that wakes you up suddenly and compels you to snuggle up to your bedmate, or wish you had a bedmate to which to snuggle. His is the low growl of arcane chantings and the lyrical purrs of leopards and lions. From what I've heard these past two days, Mr. Andrews has only gotten better with age. His signature sound is, without a doubt, very present on "Cormorant." Actually, that sound of his is magnified. His whispers are more "whispery" and his barks are more "menacing." Being one who appreciates his unique style, I find this both comforting and unsettling, but that is how it should be.
From my perspective, Barry Andrews is one of the music world's best-kept secrets. It's as though a secret society has conspired to keep him for our own, hesitant to share him with just anyone. The sounds he makes are precious and should be cherished by the Initiated. Everyone need move along to something that better fits their banal tastes and limited imaginations. For my part, I wish to share the work of Mr. Andrews with everyone and proclaim him King Vocalist. He would scoff at my dreams, I'm certain. But it doesn't stop me from wishing that Barry Andrews had the exposure and respect afforded those a thousand times subjacent to him in every single way.
I know of countless souls around the world who have been inspired by Barry Andrews' talent. The combination of his intelligent writing and his incredible voice have moved people to write, create art, make photography, and who knows what else? His infinite creativity fuels the creativity of others and this, as Martha would say, is a Good Thing. Exponential Imagination is a rare commodity in these days and times and, while so many artists out there serve only to place money in the pockets of businessmen instead of charging the spiritual act of creation inherent in us all, there are those like Mr. Andrews that openly share a vision with all who care and are able to understand, and are pleased to see it carried along, transformed, remade, and nurtured.
Of course, folks who read this will say, "She's just biased. She's a squealing fangirl by her own admission. What would she know?" To those cynics, I challenge you. Don't you think there's a reason I'm such a squealing fangirl? Don't you think that I'm biased because the wonderment that I've heard over the years has gotten under my skin and never left, and never will? My own experience with Mr. Andrews' music can only be best described as a Danse Macabre. His exploration of the Dark forced me to explore my own Darkness. On the whole, this has been a positive and revelatory experience, if not sometimes highly uncomfortable. But true art, true talent, I believe is supposed to make you uncomfortable. It's supposed to challenge you to grow and seek out your own answers.
And that's what Barry Andrews does, and he does it with a voice that will wrap itself around your mind and heart, and will compel you to your own greatness with gentle and ominous vocal promptings. Listen to him. Let him in.
This is not my official review of "Cormorant." I haven't had enough listens of the CD yet to create an educated review of the album that would do it and whomever may read the review justice. These are just my observations on Barry Andrews' voice after being exposed to his latest work.
What I have to say
If you prefer the classical noodlings of the opera scene, Barry Andrews is not for you. If you like the incessant technique-ing of vocalists like Celine Dion or Christina Aguilera, Barry Andrews is not for you. But! If you are a fan of uniqueness, creativity, and individuality, you should prick up your ears and heed the call of the Mighty Barry Andrews.
Mr. Andrews possesses something that many supposedly better singers do not: character. It takes character to be a true singer, in my humble opinion, not just a certain kind of talent and a range that can sometimes be heard only by canines and humpback whales. His is a voice that is difficult, if not impossible, to emulate. And, believe me, I've tried. But there's something about the sounds he makes that holds you to the song, whatever song he's singing. His style interprets the lyrics for you and makes each song an entity rather than a simple track on a CD. I've read Shriekback, Stic Basin, and Barry's solo lyrics before ever hearing the songs themselves but, only after I heard Mr. Andrews bring them to life, did I understand the gravity of the song.
From my perspective, he is the heart and soul of Shriekback, and the main reason I even got into the band in the first place.
Barry Andrews' voice is the kind that wriggles under your skin insidiously like a benign parasite, nesting there and spreading out to overtake your system. You don't even know you've been invaded and enthralled until you suddenly realise that, if you're not hearing his voice, you need to very soon. His is that whisper in your ear in the night when you're almost asleep. That whisper that wakes you up suddenly and compels you to snuggle up to your bedmate, or wish you had a bedmate to which to snuggle. His is the low growl of arcane chantings and the lyrical purrs of leopards and lions. From what I've heard these past two days, Mr. Andrews has only gotten better with age. His signature sound is, without a doubt, very present on "Cormorant." Actually, that sound of his is magnified. His whispers are more "whispery" and his barks are more "menacing." Being one who appreciates his unique style, I find this both comforting and unsettling, but that is how it should be.
From my perspective, Barry Andrews is one of the music world's best-kept secrets. It's as though a secret society has conspired to keep him for our own, hesitant to share him with just anyone. The sounds he makes are precious and should be cherished by the Initiated. Everyone need move along to something that better fits their banal tastes and limited imaginations. For my part, I wish to share the work of Mr. Andrews with everyone and proclaim him King Vocalist. He would scoff at my dreams, I'm certain. But it doesn't stop me from wishing that Barry Andrews had the exposure and respect afforded those a thousand times subjacent to him in every single way.
I know of countless souls around the world who have been inspired by Barry Andrews' talent. The combination of his intelligent writing and his incredible voice have moved people to write, create art, make photography, and who knows what else? His infinite creativity fuels the creativity of others and this, as Martha would say, is a Good Thing. Exponential Imagination is a rare commodity in these days and times and, while so many artists out there serve only to place money in the pockets of businessmen instead of charging the spiritual act of creation inherent in us all, there are those like Mr. Andrews that openly share a vision with all who care and are able to understand, and are pleased to see it carried along, transformed, remade, and nurtured.
Of course, folks who read this will say, "She's just biased. She's a squealing fangirl by her own admission. What would she know?" To those cynics, I challenge you. Don't you think there's a reason I'm such a squealing fangirl? Don't you think that I'm biased because the wonderment that I've heard over the years has gotten under my skin and never left, and never will? My own experience with Mr. Andrews' music can only be best described as a Danse Macabre. His exploration of the Dark forced me to explore my own Darkness. On the whole, this has been a positive and revelatory experience, if not sometimes highly uncomfortable. But true art, true talent, I believe is supposed to make you uncomfortable. It's supposed to challenge you to grow and seek out your own answers.
And that's what Barry Andrews does, and he does it with a voice that will wrap itself around your mind and heart, and will compel you to your own greatness with gentle and ominous vocal promptings. Listen to him. Let him in.
