barbarossa - 'griptide'

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Barbarossa has a new single out on Bandcamp on a pay what you like basis. It's a bloody brilliant tune too.

barbarossa - 'silent island'

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Ever have one of those days at work where only music can calm the nerves?

barbarossa - 'imager'

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The very wonderful James Mathe aka Barbarossa is back with a brand new album that just oozes class. It's got his trademark singing where he really hits the high notes with gusto, there's the uplifting melancholy but where before the electronica had a lo-fi and retro feel to it, he's replaced it with something meatier. I think the change works very well. Here's the lead track from the album.

barbarossa - 'where do we go love'

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The great man himself helped me out here. I picked up a copy of the Memory Laps EP from Rough Trade recently - a lovely accompaniment to the Bedrum Cassettes EP I already own and whilst working from home put it on for the first time. Of course they're all great tracks, the cover of Bon Iver's 'Stacks' being particularly good but I've had track 3 on loop all morning and as much as I kept looking, I couldn't find the track name but a tweet to the artist himself and I quickly had the answer. Apparently the new album will feature a new version of this but possibly under a different title. I can't wait to hear the new arrangement. 

barbarossa - 'battles'

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No sooner has he released the excellent 'Butterfly Plague' EP than along comes another heart-wrenchingly beautiful tune from James Mathe aka Barbarossa. He does this so well without relying on mawkish lyrics or cliched tunes. This chap deserves to be a massive star when he's so consistently good. 

barbarossa - 'butterfly plague'

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James Mathe returns in the guise of his alter ego with this song from his latest EP released next month.  It has all the tell-tale signs of a Mathe production too. It's electronic but with a lo-fi feel, the confident yet understated vocals and a warmth that you just can't fake.