Butcher the Barr is the brainchild of Manchester-based Joel Nicholson, and his medium is gently melodic folk-pop played on guitar and banjo. However, into the mix he’s slung in all manner of additional instruments, ranging from trumpets and clarinet to piano and harmonium, not to mention toy instruments and whatever else was kicking about in the studio.
For all that, ‘For Each a Future Tethered’ is a remarkably uncluttered-sounding album, which suits his easy, breezy style nicely. There are moments where skiffly elements bring bounce to the sound, and throughout Nicholson paints little vignettes with whimsical images and observations that add splashes of colour to his introspective-feeling songs.
Although largely understated in demeanour – to the extent that there are points where the attention may begin to drift – tracks like the single ‘Alpha Street West’, with some nice guitar detail, and the more shadowy ‘Blood for the Breeze’, which is part Elliott Smith, part Simon and Garfunkel – do stand out and showcase his abilities as a writer of carefully nuanced songs. ‘Silk Tilts’ flutters past charmingly, while ‘X’ features the three-string guitar stylings of one Seasick Steve – although his contribution really doesn’t amount to much in truth. Sure, the slide guitar bit at the end is fair enough, but doesn’t exactly make a vast difference and could have been played by anyone: while it might have been fun for the Butcher to have him in the studio, it’s hardly a selling point for the album for fans of either.
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While we’re still shrugging over that, the last couple of tracks float by pleasantly but largely unremarkably, as by this time Nicholson’s whispery vocals have begun to grow a shade tiresome and the effect of his gentle strumming has tapered off undramatically.
Butcher the Bar on MySpace
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