In a world where lyricism and arrangement intertwine with simplicity, the universe gave us the EP Just Silence from Freiburg, Germany’s very own, Barbonus. Join me as I lay out this EP’s beauty and why it’s a gift from Barbonus to you.
The synth riff throughout the first track, “Just Silence,” created this sci-fi video game feel to the track. Imagine travelling to the future and driving on a highway filled with colorful imagery from different futuristic cars and infrastructure. The drum pattern in the chorus created this laid-back/swayful feel that can make any music lover and enthusiast do the stanky face. It’s that groovy. The bass lick in the after-chorus part is short but noticeable. Barbonus captured what we producers and arrangers call “Simple yet effective”.
Aside from its captivating use of instrumentation, the song uses tropes that make any listener step back and assess the main point of the song. In a time where everything is being handed to us on a silver platter, Barbonus decided to give us phrases to ponder on, like / I killed my tomb / I push the fire control / Just silence in the room / and the like.
The second track, “Endless Loops of Yesterday,” has this R&B/gospel feel to it because of its melodical phrasing and note progression without compromising its electronic feel roots because of the vocal and synth samples added throughout the track.
The same with the first track, this song has a lot of tropes in it that will make any listener step back and dive fully into what the song actually means, which, for me, is a gift. We’ve been fed simplicity to a point that we listeners got comfortable and forgot to use our imagination. Barbonus gave us an opportunity to think, and for that I’m ecstatic!
“Loop.Created” is what I call a hidden gem. As a reviewer, I try and understand an EP or LP as a whole. I look at the theme of the tracks, an emerging pattern in arrangement or even lyrics, and how it connects with one another. But this particular track made me disconnect from my stereotypical way of doing music reviews. I can’t specifically point my finger at the main reason, even the main theme of this track. It consists of a piano background with lyrics that feel like I’m listening to a code, and at the same time, a story from the perspective of a robot.
And honestly, I think that’s what made “Loop.Created” a hidden gem. It creates this avenue for us listeners to imagine a scenario, giving us freedom to interpret it in a way we see fit.
Ending the EP, we have this laid-back/easy-going vibe of a track titled “Observed”. After the heaviness and sheer greatness of “Loop.Created”, Barbonus gave us something to relax our minds to, but make no mistakes, this track has Barbonus written all over it, from the electronic feel to the lyrical tropes.
The Just Silence EP from Barbonus was a gift from the universe because of its unapologetic way of breaking the norms of today. In today’s music, it’s rare to listen to music that will make you think, let alone leave you craving for more. If you like Barbonus and his music, make sure to follow him on his socials and stream this EP.
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About the Author
He has been in the music industry for two and a half decades. Currently, he plays bass guitar for a rock-reggae band called EnjointPh and a funk-fusion trio called Banky. He also hosts a podcast titled Usapang Musiko with Ervin Besana, which explores topics such as music, arts, and philosophy.
