By the time I was done listening to Baby Barnyard’s 6-track compilation, Home Recordings, I was upset with myself. I was unable to recall many specific moments, not because it is stark, but rather it was so easy for me to get lost in thought, which I guess is the purpose of the genre “dream-pop.” However, upon second listen, I prepared myself and fought the urge to drift off to god knows where and listen closely. What was initially an endless pool of ambient layers started to sound like what it really is: a beautiful and floating concoction of slow, moody guitars with distant, sweeping vocals.

Baby Barnyard, the project of singer and songwriter Amanda Freeman, weaves in and out of dream-like trances seamlessly. The album starts with the track Uncertain Principle. The warmth of Amanda’s vocals panning from side to side sends chills down my spine as the guitars scratch and flutter. But just as your eyelids will begin to weigh down, the bittersweet third track Cloudy chimes in as Amanda begins with the hook, “down, up, down, up, up, down, up.” The minimalist song structure is reminiscent of the band Atlas Sound combining a beautiful and catchy vocal melody with simple acoustic guitar and synth, paradoxically instilling feelings of unconditional nostalgia and anticipation.

The album of home recordings is sure to be a great starting point for the talented musician. It will definitely stick with me after my initial lapse in focus. At times catchy, at times captivating, and always flowing. However, my one criticism, no matter how well it flows and grabs you, there feels like there is just a little something missing making it great. Then again, these are just home recordings, so, with that said, I’m more than excited to see her next step and if that next step will make room for Baby Barnyard to grab hold of the monopoly bands such as Beach House and Deerhunter hold on the genre.

–Michael D Giordano

The Deli Magazine New England is eager to present to you, Memos, the title track off the highly anticipated upcoming album, Memos, by Boston’s The Hush Now. The album, slated to be released Tuesday, September 27th, is a departure from the band’s previous sound. With line-up changes, stylistic changes and just the expected changes that come with growing older and wiser, what comes through is the clarity and honesty with which the band see themselves. Click below to stream, exclusively, the title track. As an added bonus, click here to read Andrew Jeromski’s review of The Hush Now’s performance at Great Scott on 8/12/2011.

The Hush Now — Memos

–Chrissy Prisco