Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore – Tragic Magic – Album Review
by Killian Laher

Composers Julianna Barwick and harpist Mary Lattimore have come together to collaborate on this calm and gentle album.  When listening to this kind of music, it’s hard not to lapse into clichés like celestial music, choirs of angels, etc.  The first track, Perpetual Adoration, is exactly the kind of thing that invokes that response.  Lattimore’s slow, deliberate harp pattern accompanies Barwick’s high-pitched vocal on a gorgeous, tranquil, drifting track.  The Four Sleeping Princesses builds slowly and gradually, with the harp taking centre stage alongside atmospherics and a wordless vocal.  Temple of the Winds was written for them by Roger Eno and glides by in a similar vein.

Their Vangelis cover, Rachel’s Song (from the Blade Runner soundtrack), has less harp in it and stands out by virtue of that fact, with some glorious whistling noises, evoking some of Ennio Morricone’s soundtracks.  Equally, Stardust consists largely of keyboards before the focus on the harp returns for the lengthy Melted Moon.

Fans of both artists will definitely want to check this out, and for those curious, the album is a good way to ease into the new year.

Perpetual Adoration