The Barr Brothers have announced the release of their long-awaited debut follow-up, the intense and expansive ‘Sleeping Operator,’ out October 7 on Secret City Records.
‘Sleeping Operator’ represents an immense creative output. The group, featuring brothers Brad on guitar/vocals and Andrew on drums, classical harpist Sarah Pagé, and pianist/bassist Andrès Vial, recorded 40 tracks in the process of making this record. The 13 songs on ‘Sleeping Operator’ are meditative and explosive, exploring the far reaches of folk laced with West African influences, hypnotic modernist pulsing and beyond. While the record extends into cinematic and other-worldly territories, it maintains a campfire-like intimacy throughout.
The album was produced by The Barr Brothers and recorded and mixed by Ryan Freeland (Bonnie Raitt, Aimee Mann, Ray Lamontagne) in Montreal and Los Angeles. The band was joined by local neighborhood guests from Arcade Fire (Richard Reed Parry), Patrick Watson’s band, The Luyas, Bassekou Kouyate’s band and Little Scream along the way. Known for their unique orchestrations, the band used a plethora of instruments to embellish this album including a variety of horns, marimba, ngoni (West African stringed instrument), an instrument made by a fan called a cardboardium, hammered dulcimer, and pedal steel to make a sound that is sui generis.
The band has key appearances confirmed and international tour dates to be announced, including Way Over Yonder presented by Newport Folk Festival at the Santa Monica Pier and the End of The Road Festival in the UK.
TRACK LISTING:
1. Static Orphans
2. Love Ain’t Enough
3. Wolves
4. Even the Darkness Has Arms
5. Come in the Water
6. Little Lover
7. How the Heroine Dies
8. Valhallas
9. Half Crazy
10. Bring Me Your Love
11. England
12. The Bear at the Window
13. Please Let Me Let it Go
