Richard Barbieri
Things Buried (Intact, 2004)

It's really hard to believe this is Richard Barbieri's first solo album. As a member of Japan, Rain Tree Crow, Porcupine Tree and guest on just about every Mick Karn and Steve Jansen solo disc, I guess he never got around to it before now. Our loss, as this stunning disc proves.

In the above mentioned groups, Barbieri has always excelled as a sonic painter of synthetic texture and color. His contributions to Porcupine Tree are as sublime as they are subtle; in the flash of other great musicians, it's almost possible to forget he's there. Seeing him live with Porcupine Tree really opened my eyes (and ears) to what he's contributing to that band. Here, it's all about him and it is a royal treat. The songs shimmer and sparkle like the lost brother of ANOTHER GREEN WORLD while having a sonic density not too far off the Aphex Twin. The two guest musicians provide a wonder compliment and foil to Barbieri's sheets of melody and sound. Percy Jones is especially a treat here, having a liquid style and sense of melodious accompaniment that Karn has always lacked (not that Karn is lesser, he's just different). It might be the presence of Jones that calls Eno up so readily but Eno hasn't released an album this vital and exciting in 20 years.

One can hear the echoes of Japan, David Sylvian, Steve Wilson and , yes, Eno all through these eight songs but it's really just the revealing of Barbieri's part in those projects, not a mimicking (except Eno, who he's never played with to the best of my knowledge). It is unfortunate that this disc is hard to find - I ended up ordering it from England - because it deserves to be heard by a wide audience.

Easily in among the top five discs of this year.

Posted 1 October 2005.