Dan Barrett is responsible for some of the best independent music to come out of the States in recent years, first making waves with Tim Macuga as Have A Nice Life on 2008’s sprawling lo-fi conceptual double-disc Deathconsciousness and further plumbing the depths of his psyche with 2011’s spook-folk project Giles Corey. Aside from these flagship efforts, Barrett’s also produced "open source black metal" as Nahvalr, established the Enemies List Home Recordings label, created over an hour’s worth of menacing binaural ambience and signed with San Fransisco’s Flenser label to release Have A Nice Life’s 2014 effort The Unnatural World. Now, Barrett’s adding Black Wing to his ever-expanding list of extracurriculars. Watch above.
For a man whose label advertises "No Fun. Not Ever", Barrett’s latest offering is a slice of tuneful synth pop, it’s bubbling, Drive-inspired electronics standing starkly against his doomed-as-per-usual cries, this time fuelled by recent health issues. Those familiar with Barrett’s previous projects will feel instantly at home; the bleak, body-horror lyrics rub shoulders with gorgeous melodies at once depressing and vaguely uplifting. Says Barrett: "I decided to just go ahead and make a depressive chillwave record – basically, music to listen to in the car with the windows down while feeling slightly melancholy and distracted.”
‘My Body Betrayed Me’ arrives ahead of Black Wing’s debut album …Is Doomed, set for release on September 18 courtesy of The Flenser. Pre-order details are forthcoming, but you can download an unmastered version of the track over at Black Wing’s Bandcamp.
