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Released on September 25, 2015 via The Flenser
Black Wing is the latest endeavour of bleak and distorted post-everything extraordinaire Dan Barrett. The mind behind the now seminal Have A Nice Life bares his ability with electronics on …Is Doomed, making this a stark contrast to his other solo project, Giles Corey. This contrast however is only in the main sound, Barrett’s signature smooth yet ached vocals echo throughout the album, creating that undeniable and instantly recognizable sound that runs throughout his projects.
…Is Doomed is as expected, even for an electronic release, and it makes sense when laid out with Barrett’s other music, perhaps making this more of a fan appealing record due to the unknowing bleakness surrounding the music. This factor creates an instant familiarity with this record, yet it still manages to remain an interesting and unique listen.
The opener, ‘Luther’, came as a bit of a surprise itself, opening the space in front of you to allow the following tracks in. It’s an awakening in the form of sound, the steady drum beat and synths layered almost blissfully over the top with Barrett’s vocals soaring beneath the mix. A higher synth tone then bounces in, with the vocals chanting along with it, making this uplifting (a rare thing in Barrett’s world of ghosts and darkness) and sentimental.
The second track here, itself entitled ‘Black Wing’, was instantly memorable with the pounding drums and Barrett wistfully exclaiming on repeat, “Resting on a black wing.” This then lead me to realize the slight contentment in Barrett on this record, as opposed to the recurring exploration of topics revolving around existence, death and meaning in oneself. This is perhaps the most “in the moment” that he has sounded so far lyrically.
Again, with ‘My Body Betrayed Me’, Barrett isn’t starring unknowingly into a bleak abyss, but is conscious of his own matter, as a being. This track is a stand-out, a foot-tapping distorted dreamscape, where Barrett’s vocals sound less buried and instead extend out to you invitingly. The track holds a grip on you, before slowly stripping itself back and ending abruptly.
These themes in the lyrics are a refreshing take in his music, and an engaging aspect to this record as a whole. Yet it seems this is slotted in with the sound and emotion that Barrett already knows how to portray best. A result of this means some songs stick with a steady beat and synth line throughout without much deviation, leaving me feel something is missing in order to complete this newer perspective on the style Barrett goes for.
‘If I Let Him In’ is a soothing ending to the record, so layered with sound that it sticks you to the spot, staring like a fool into space as you slowly become entranced by some of the best lyrical moments of the record. Stand out moments like this allowed me to forget some of the more drawn out moments, where unfortunately this album falls down for me. The distortion, drumming and synths and the bleak soundscape created merely triggers me to want to listen to early Have A Nice Life material. …Is Doomed fits nicely into the Dan Barrett catalogue and provides a decent and engaging listen, however does not surpass anything before it.
If you’re looking for something hypnotic, sounds to get washed under, and in the same vein as Dan Barrett’s previous projects, then this record does the job and does it well. Just don’t go into this expecting the next great milestone in the mystical and apocalyptic journey that is this man’s musical endeavours.
