BARB "BARB"

About a month ago The Corner interviewed Seamus Ebbs, drummer of the “Antipodeans darling line-up” of BARB. Since then, the album has been released to favourable welcomes, and they have been confirmed for Gisborne’s Rhythm & Vines festival. Along with Ebbs, BARB is Liam Finn, Lawrence Arabia, Connan Mockasin and Eliza-Jane. Darlings indeed: the three iconic young men at the helm of this collaboration are also the current trendsetters of New Zealand’s beguiling lo-fi pop sound.

In their own right, Finn, Arabia & Mockasin have proved to be compelling writers, composers, and performers, each with a healthy background of critically acclaimed material. Yet despite this super-group potential, BARB does not captivate, or even engage, on quite the same level as their individual efforts.

It is clear however, that musical revolution is not their intention here. The project and its promotion reeks of fun. The press kit is punctuated by such adjectives as “charming”, “beloved”, “delightful and fantastical”, with suggestions of Pamela Anderson and “your bogan Auntie smoking a fag out on your Nana’s porch.” And given the genesis of the group, this album should be nothing but fun. Basically, the five friends found themselves in Auckland at the same time, so got together for some jams at Finn’s dad’s Roundhead Studios over a few weeks.

And that’s how the album sounds: a bunch of very talented, imaginative friends, jamming. Each member adds their own distinctive ingredient in quite a Travelling Wilburys way, and the show rambles along, bringing pleasure for artist and audience alike.

I haven’t said much about the music itself, but really it’s self-explanatory. If you enjoy the sounds of any of these guys – Finn, Arabia or Mockasin – you’ll hear their presence and be very satisfied with their sweetly outlandish offspring. Almost as enchanting as The Gladeyes’ Psychosis of Love, BARB has enough sweet melodies, catchy lines and birdsongs to be an ideal summer soundtrack. It’s great news they’re performing at New Year’s.