Barcelona: Absolutes

    I do not know how Barcelona decided on its name, being from Seattle, Washington. Maybe it just meant more to be named after the capital city of a ancient nation rich in culture and history than after a hot spot indie scene city like Seattle. Perhaps it was just following the musical trend of naming after cities or animals. Nevertheless, Brian Fennell, the leading member of the group, realized that after self producing and releasing an album Safety Songs in 2005, while enlisting friends to fill in the necessary musical elements, that forming the group Barcelona would greatly improve Fennell's scope and creative vision. Rightly so, Barcelona, with the album Absolutes took Fennell's Safety Songs to a new level of depth of construction, with stronger melodies and balance.

    Absolutes was originally released in 2007 independently with the self-created NBD Music label, but was later re-released remastered with four additional tracks in 2009 with Universal Motown. As of 2010, however, Barcelona is no longer with Universal for undisclosed reasons. Apparently, a new record is in the works, but there is no news yet available beyond word of announcement on their Myspace blog on Jan 29th.

    Barcelona's sound is highly influenced mostly by Coldplay and Sigur Rós (I would say, though the band cites only U2, Coldplay, Copeland, Lovedrug and Death Cab for Cutie), very atmospheric with strings and synth, piano and electric guitar chords; but not quite ambient genre-wise. The vocals are nicely balanced and everything supports them. There is also a driving feeling to certain songs with drum set that is a little too typical rock beat at times, but bearable because it does not overwhelm. Absolutes thirteen tracks also contains a solid mix of pulse driven and melancholy melodic songs.

    Typically this kind of more simplistic music would leave me wanting more, but Barcelona's Absolutes has grown on me steadily and now I do endorse it willingly. Enjoy the track "First Floor People" in the MixPod player, which starts softly and grows powerfully.