It’s hard to believe this is Dean Barrett’s debut EP – considering the fact he’s bagged a SAMA (alongside Dan Patlansky), worked extensively as a composer for theatre and TV, and backed countless bands as a session musician in his years on the scene. Needless to say, All We Have Is Each Other comes as a striking exhibition of just what he does best.
The EP sees him flaunting the sheer diversity of the piano throughout, as he bends the classical instrument to his dynamic will. It’s refreshing to find wafts of punk-rock, jazz, blues, pop, and classical sound infused throughout the project.
Written throughout lockdown as something of an audial diary, it reads just like one – if you get my drift. From the sweeping dexterity of opener “Vessels”, which pairs delicate piano melody with even finer strings, to the driving penultimate track “Termangent”, which pulls on both rollicking rock tendencies and rhythmic classicism alike, he weaves narrative without words.
There are some words in “33”, but the vocals serve more as an instrumental addition than a communicative device, pulling on the varied jazzy influence that also drives “Sea Change”. And then there’s “Drifting” which wraps up the project with gossamer-fine musicianship, reminding one just how versatile, emotive and dynamic the piano can really be.
- Advertisement -
Feature pic supplied by artist
