Emotive Indie Folk Rock from the king of Lo-Fi...
Hailed by many as one of the most important and prolific songwriters of his generation, Lou Barlow returns with new single 'Holding Back The Year', taken from his first official solo album, 'Emoh'. Coming to fame as one of the leading lights in the Lo-Fi genre you might recognise Barlow from his key role in bands such as Sebadoh and The Folk Implosion, and as the bass player of Dinosaur Jr., however, 'Holding Back The Year' sees Barlow moving away from his Lo-Fi legacy towards a more Indie, almost Folk Rock sound.
'Holding Back The Year' begins with sparse, but up-tempo acoustic guitar before Barlow's warm, deep vocals begin, instantly sending shivers down your spine with their emotive country twang. The single soon builds as the synth and bass are added giving a much fuller sound, while vocal harmonies accentuate the poignant chorus. Barlow may have moved away from his earlier Lo-Fi tendencies, but 'Holding Back The Year' still manages to capture a natural, spontaneous feel despite its more sophisticated production.
The three B-sides that appear on the CD single are equally as impressive, in particular the very moving 'Finger'. Seemingly just Barlow and an acoustic guitar, 'Finger' is much simpler, slower and less instantly catchy than 'Holding Back The Year', but despite this, the track feels intensely personal, with the kind of desperate vocals that instantly touch your heart and bring a lump to your throat. 'Terrorize' is similar in pace to 'Finger', but changes from the almost Folk sound of the first two tracks, to a more acoustic Indie feel, with a deeper, darker emphasis. The emotion is no less apparent, building throughout to become loud and tangibly intense by the end of the track. Finally, 'Refused' returns to the more up-tempo beats of 'Holding Back The Year' but remains in the Indie Rock vein of 'Terrorize'; beginning with drums and incorporating bass and electric guitar 'Refused' combines Barlow's emotional intensity with a melody-fuelled, layered and well-constructed sound.
Overall, whilst 'Holding Back The Year' is a great single, the B-sides are equally captivating; this is a must for all Lou Barlow fans, but the intense feeling, acoustic sound and emotive, heart-wrenching vocals will also reach out to Indie and Folk Rock fans. Understated and genuinely moving, 'Holding Back The Year' proves why Lou Barlow is still the voice of a generation.