Larb - shedworks 001 (Self Release) [Ambient]

Lars Barnes aka Larb is another one of those enigmatic artists who prefers to let their music do the talking, but I have it on good authority that he's a composer, musician and sound artist working in the Scottish Borders with a fondness for found sounds, field recordings, synthesis and other technologies which he utilises to create his ambient spectrum spanning soundscapes. He's also got quite a quietly distinctive sound that eschews tired cliches and which alongside the tight production, immediately jumped out at me, and after a series of singles and EPs over the last couple of years, he's just released his debut album. I like it.

Don't expect to get lost in listening action and forget that you put something in the oven, the album is pretty short and with the seven tracks clocking in at eighteen minutes total probably only just qualifies for album status, but each track is perfectly formed and the album flows pretty well; you'll get your ride, just a short one.

The answer is yes to "is this thing on", the opening track, a nice blend of home made rattles, stuttering low frequencies and haunted pads that trump the underlying restlessness, and which dissipate all too soon, leaving us with the quivering overlapping synths of "ramping up" that get lifted by a mid-track Detroitian flourish before, and yes it's a mild complaint, fading rather than finishing. Next up is the pleasantly industrial machine ambience of "locking up for the night" which receives a dulled, thudding, unhurried beat injection for a chopped and screwed house vibe as recorded by someone in a k-hole, but don't sweat as "Viaduct echo" is right behind it, its odd brightness and intensity just the friendly nudge our confused state needed, but blink and that too is gone.

"Windmills" starts with parallel dimensional chimes recorded this side of the portal door, as even the rhythmic noise - another found sound I'd hazard, adds some gentle propulsion to the Asiatic temple vibes, the perfect gateway track for "waiting for your order", a sunrise moment after the album's largely, but pleasantly gloomy start. Hold tight though for the view from the top of the hill that is the album's closing track, as once again those open to interpretation found sounds float around a vaguely alarm like, but not alarming, tightly looped motif.

It's an accomplished debut "album" that bodes well for the project, as Larb effortlessly combines agitated, soothing, sleepy and conscious states into a pleasing and singular ambient whole. More please.

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Playlist Companion

Find Larb in the Slow Ambient Playlist.