Kirk Barley
Arc
Marionette
Who says you can’t find warmth in negative space? There’s a stark minimalism that guides Kirk Barley’s new album Arc, but it stops short of the austere solemnity that so often comes as a byproduct of reductionist approaches. Plunging further into electroacoustic methods and just intonation, Barley has travelled far from the full-spectrum club productions he once produced as Bambooman, and yet his journey under his own name feels modest and measured in its presentation.
One way in which Barley brings an instantly charming accessibility to his music is through the playful movement of his chosen sounds. That’s helped by frequent collaborator and virtuoso drummer Matt Davies, whose agile and expressive rhythms spring across tracks such as “Ion” and “Ecstatic.” Closer to decorative accents than sustained grooves, his pockmarked patterns dance in the ears, and Barley’s delicate synthesis moves sympathetically. Metallic resonance rings out around the notes that strike in response to the percussion, offering shards of light that gleam atop of the sweetly lilting arpeggios that undulate below.
There’s also an intimacy to the music that draws you in close. The guitar plucks of “Sundry” unfurl as though Barley is sitting in a quiet room, idly feeling out an idea without overworking it. The simplicity is captivating, and allows the subtleties of non-standard tuning to create a powerful, emotionally ambiguous shift that might otherwise lose its impact in a busier production.
Arc is full of open and inquisitive music, but for all the experimentation and originality on display, it never feels like Barley is randomly grabbing at sounds and techniques. Finely balanced and patiently communicated, his practice reflects both a gentle evolution from his previous work and the poise of an artist who knows exactly where they’re heading.
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