Band/Musician: Laura Barrett Album: Victory Garden Label: Paper Bag Records By Eric Rosenhek After releasing two EPs, Toronto musician Laura Barrett is moving forward with her first full-length album, Victory Garden. This new release will allow the listener a greater opportunity to experience Barrett’s unique creativity. Victory Garden features 12 tracks that are experimental and certainly fall under the alternative category. Barrett refuses to follow the discourse of composition, preferring to create her own style of music. She controls the tempo and flow of the album. Each song is more of an exhibition of sound than an actual tune. They all feature eclectic arrangements and various instruments, including the Kalimba (African thumb piano), which has become Barrett’s instrument of choice. Every track on Victory Garden tells a random story. For instance, songs like “Chidiya” and “Ferryland” discuss the journey of life and love, while songs like “Consumption” and “The Sharper Side” give impressions of society in its current state. There’s also the satirical “Rein À Déclarer,” which is a bilingual musical conversation held at what appears to be a Canadian airport’s customs booth. Who knew bureaucracy could be so harmonious? Barrett’s poetic lyrics are more suited for a spoken word performance. But given the style of this album, the lyrics brilliantly intertwine with the music. In addition, Victory Garden offers a bonus track, which can best be described as a clusterfuck of the album’s 12 songs. The reaction towards Victory Garden is based on tolerance. Those who have a fixed notion of what songs should sound like might not buy into Barrett’s ingenuity. However, those with an open mind will applaud her. For more information on Laura Barrett, please visit: www.myspace.com/laurabarrett www.paperbagrecords.com/bands/laura-barrett |