Barber, Matthew

This album was a departure because I made it entirely on my own in my basement studio and played all the parts. It was made in the spirit of albums like McCartney's first solo record McCartney and Springsteen's Nebraska, where the flash of fancy studios has been traded in for a homemade charm. I'm proud of it not only as a musician and songwriter but also as a DIY audio engineer with a love of old analog gear. This was the first time I had recorded and mixed one of my own albums and for better or for worse, it was satisfying to do it my way! Many of the songs were written in the last year since True Believer came out, but a few like Let Me Go Home, Oh Lexi and Dust On My Collar are older songs that got re-worked and finally saw a release on this record.

Ghost Notes is the first album from Toronto singer-songwriter Matthew Barber since 2005s Sweet Nothing. Produced by Barber himself, it stands as his most mature collection of songs to date. The songs of Ghost Notes were cut mainly live-off-the-floor and entirely to analog tape. The result is a sound that tips its hat to many of the records of the 1970s that Barber adores. While no attempt was made to sound particularly retro it was a conscious decision on the part of Barber and veteran engineer Ken Friesen to avoid computers and the modern pro tools sound as much as possible. Barber said he wanted to connect more intimately with the listeners than he has on previous records. All in all Ghost notes is more of a traditional singer songwriter record than Barbers two most recent releases.

On True Believer I wanted to work with a producer and I ended up hooking up with the very talented Howie Beck. We hit it off well and had a great time making the record. Howie played the drums and most of the bass and I played all the guitars, some keys and percussion, and we brought in special guests for the fancy parts. We did most of it at Howie's house in Parkdale after laying down bed-tracks at Canterbury studios. I battled through my allergies to Howie's cat and I think we got a beautiful record out of it.

Matthew Barber returns with Big Romance his 8th studio album on the Outside Music Label. Barber, who self-produced his last two albums, jumped at the opportunity to have Jayhawks frontman, and leader of the Americana movement, Gary Louris come on board. Big Romance features exquisite backing vocals from Michelle McAdorey, guitar and vocals from Louris and a guest appearance by Barber's sister Jill who appears on the lead track "Hold Me". Big Romance has soul-searching ballads, foot-stomping rockers, some groovy mid-tempo tunes and hooks-a-plenty.

Barber, Matthew: Phase of the Moon [CD]