Little Barrie - Death Express

by Dave Goodwin

published: 30 / 8 / 2017

Label: Non Delux
Format: CD

Fabulous fifth album from British psychedelic dance rockers Little Barrie released to coincide with a long list of live dates and which reflects on establishment corruption

Review

On the back of a whole plethora of live dates and outings, British psychedelically-empowered rocksters Little Barrie release their highly anticipated fifth studio album, 'Death Express', on Non Delux. This comes after the release last December of their latest single 'Love or Love' to much critical acclaim. The band consists of Barrie Cadogan (guitar/vocals), Lewis Wharton (bass) and Virgil Howe (drums), and this new offering packs a mean message and half answers, if that is possible, to today’s atmosphere of confusion and division. Indeed, the new single 'Produkt', which was released at the end of June is testament to that and the video which accompanies it has been directed by Douglas Hart (founding member of The Jesus and Mary Chain and video director for the likes of Paul Weller, Primal Scream, The Horrors and Toy). These guys are not just at home being Little Barrie however, and their hobbies will give you some idea of how the trio pull their ideas together. Cadogan, who incidentally grew up in Nottingham, is a world respected guitarist and the go-to guy for the likes of Primal Scream, Paul Weller, Edwyn Collins, Anton Newcombe, Spiritualized, Pete Molinari, Charles Bradley, the Chemical Brothers and Paolo Nutini, Wharton is also a motorcycle enthusiast and illustrator who has had exhibitions in Japan and Spain, whilst Howe, the acclaimed drumming son of rock figurehead Steve Howe, produces and DJs in the UK and abroad. The main theme behind the twenty tracks (Yes, you heard me right. Twenty tracks!) is the establishment and the underhanded tactics it uses. Rapid beat-fest 'Copter'. for example, reflects on Big Brother-style surveillance and the usage of drones. Little Barrie remind me of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, a mantle placed not lightly on these chaps who do most of their rehearsing in Hornsey. They attempt to analyse the corruption and greed of our politicians in 'Vulture Swarm 'and the dubious policing at mass protests on 'Molotov Cop', whilst still being able to move your feet and get your fingers tapping. It was, indeed, at Hornsey, that the sound of ‘Death Express’ was born as Little Barrie spurned big, expensive studios, in favour of a couple of ancient MacBooks, and an old tape machine after long time friend Edwyn Collins left for rural Scotland to aid his ongoing rehabilitation from serious illness. Three of their previous four albums were made at Collins’ West Heath facility in London. After sending the tapes of the songs to an Edinburgh-based dance producer called Tom Forrest the album was born. Little Barrie's main message is simple. The clock is ticking, and, whilst it is, at an alarming rate it is ticking on a marvelous clock!

Track Listing:-

1 Rejection
2 I.5.C.A. (Tommy Forrest Mix)
3 Copter
4 Golden Age
5 New Disease
6 You Won't Stop Us
7 Count To Ten
8 Love or Love
9 (Nothing Will) Eliminate (Edit)
10 The Dodge
11 Bill$ House
12 Molotov Cop
13 Vulture Swarm
14 Produkt
15 Compressed Fun
16 Ultraviolet Blues
17 Sonic Lodge
18 Death Express
19 Shoulders Up, Eyes Down
20 Better Call Saul