Brooklyn based Julianna Barwick’s third album, The Magic Place was recently debuted by Asthmatic Kitty. Described as a “sound sculptor”, which is accurate in that she brings an artistry to the simple yet transcendent compositions, Barwick treads a thin line between new agey-preciousness and ambient beauty, remaining on the side of splendor like Sigur Ros and the best of Brian Eno inhabit. Barwick’s Louisiana upbringing greatly informs her work – the album title is the nickname for a tree on her family farm that functioned as her own retreat – where as a church going child she fell in love with the aesthetics of hymns and choirs. With her voice as her primary instrument, and the loop as the main production tool, Barwick essentially creates a choir of her own voice, layering and looping almost infinitely, enveloping the soundscape in heavy reverb. Check out The Magic Place for a uniquely peaceful listening experience. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | James Blake, Braids, Forest Swords, Grouper, How to Dress Well, Julian Lynch