Here it is – as promised. Barbara recall the 1940s – and reflect the 1970s – with new single, Little Bird Sing
Release Date: 22nd November 2024
Label: Self Release
Format: Digital
We’ve had a taste of this one. At The Barrier favourites Barbara are currently in the final throes of their successful 2024 Autumn Tour – we caught them just last week at Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre in Lancashire. Their new single Little Bird Sing has already been filtered into the band’s live repertoire.
When they played it at Barnoldswick, we were moved to describe the song as “…yet another Barbara classic, part pastoral, part heavy rock and awash with references to prime-time Queen…” We’re happy to stick with that as an overview but, having now had the opportunity to pay a tad more attention to Little Bird Sing, I reckon that there’s a few more observations to add.
the hawley connection
Little Bird Sing is Barbara’s first collaboration with Richard Hawley’s Producer, Colin Eliot. In the now firmly established Barbara tradition (they’re a band that seem to take a step forward with every song they release and every gig they play) Colin’s input has helped to move things forward once again. Without displacing the band – vocalist John Tydeman, keyboardist Henry Tydeman, guitarist Dean Llewellyn, bassist Jock Hosgood and drummer Lawrie Miller from their righteous front and centre position – Colin’s sumptuous string arrangements have added yet another dimension to the signature Barbara sound. The result is a record that, lyrically, recalls the austerity of the 1940s and, sonically, reflects the bombast of the 1970s.
Henry’s sweet, tasteful piano intro is soon overwhelmed by a choppy ‘Sparks’ piano lick and the first of Dean’s supercharged power chords. John’s in great vocal form and the fun just keeps flowing as Dean channels Brian May in his soaring guitar solo. This is bright Barbara pop at its very best.
lasting impact
But, it’s with the Tydeman brothers’ lyrics that Little Bird Sing makes its most lasting impact. The 1940s imagery is vivid. Scenes of cricket amongst the bombed-out rubble and Churchill’s stirring motivational speeches are evoked, before the song moves on to reflect that today’s images of that (let’s face it) grim period of history invariably focus upon the glory of victory, rather than upon the violence that claimed so many lives. And the point is made in such a lighthearted, jolly way too!
Little Bird Sing is yet another piece of clear evidence that the Barbara blossom is blooming ever brighter. Rumours abound that a full-length Barbara album is in the pipeline. I was always advised never to trust rumours, but this one’s got substance and, by Jiminy, it’s a rumour that I really, really want to believe.
Little Bird Sing is available to stream or download on all major platforms and, to whet your appetite, you can listen to a snatch of the song here.
If you’ve not yet had the opportunity to catch Barbara on their ongoing Autumn Tour, the tour still has a few shows left to run, and there are still one or two tickets left available for the shows in Guildford, Edinburgh and Hartlepool. Those remaining tickets can be purchased here.
Watch Barbara perform Don’t Send Me Messages – one the band’s now venerable hits – live at Edinburgh Castle during this year’s national tour, supporting Paul Weller here:
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