Lucio Barbarino – The Blue Evenings
Lucio Barbarino has recently released a 14 song LP The Blue Evenings, which is experimental mosaic of early 60s Beatles-influenced innovations blended with indie folk underpinnings, and, as the title suggests, the songs are about blue evenings and cover the ground of the torture of seeing an ex consistently, wasted love, people who are drifting apart and letting things and people go. Barbarino cares deeply about his song craft and it really shows.
“really close” opens with a 51 second intro of raw acoustic guitar and then there are cinematic choirs, which lead into “Alright” where Lucio sings reflective lines like: “say goodbye to the old man winter snow… it was time that I had to let you go.” This has a recording quality and some “afterward echo” style harmonies that suggest early Beatles.
“Wasteland” continues weaving folk rock into early 60s style with mature sound arrangements and it’s noteworthy, when you hear all that’s going on in the song, that Lucio plays every layer on the track. All that and you realize now that your love was just a wasteland.
“Basically Torture” describes that feeling, you’ve been there: “It’s an elegant torture watching you walk by” when you’re sitting there experiencing the pinch of heartache. It’s easier just to never see your old ex again. Here it’s mostly acoustic guitar and harmonies and the same deeply thoughtful songwriting.
“Anna” is the more folky tune on the album and has 70s folk style harmonies. “Exactly What I Need” is an animated song that’ll have your kicking off your shoes to dance. Toward the end of the album is a breezy semi twisted love song – that turns into a breaking up song – with the elegant touch of banjo: “You’ll Get Over Me.” This one is metaphorical and layered.
There are a range of song intensities, tempos, and styles to hold your attention all the way through. You’d be well advised to give this album a listen to appreciate the pure songwriting commitment. This album was produced by Lucio and he plays all the instruments except the banjo part on “You’ll Get Over Me,” which is courtesy of Dan Miller. Lucio sings vocals and backing vocals as well.
Discover more music and information on his bandcamp page here:
https://luciobarbarino.bandcamp.com/album/the-blue-evenings
