Barbara Cohen --- What The Press Says:
THE ONION
"Her latest is California, an album of thoughtful, smoldering roots-rock where Cohen's vocal and songwriting gifts continue to shine, especially on the track "Swimming Life."
HITS MAGAZINE
THIS WEEK'S MIX
A singer-songwriter I've admired for a while, Barbara Cohen, has resurfaced with California (A Girl and Her Monster Records), an album of earthy, shimmering beauty and twangy accents that more than makes good on the promise of her earlier work. It's strong throughout, but "Swimming Life" occupies a privileged spot in my iPod...
The Minneapolis CITY PAGES
A-LIST
"Barbara Cohen Mercurial Minnesota native and former Farm Accident/Brother Sun Sister Moon linchpin Barbara Cohen returns to town with a terrific collection of new songs that maybe not so coincidentally make repeated references to home. Cohen hauled her golden pipes out to L.A. a few years ago when the techno-folkie hybrid Sun Moon briefly hit the big time. Now she's back with her new album called California (Girl and Her Monster records) a gorgeous, dark streaked evocation of bitter truths, yearning, and redemption that probes places where "Dreams are lost much faster then there found." Laced with mandolin, steel guitar and accordion, the sound is a rootsy blend of alt-folk, country and pop. Topped with Cohen's riveting vocals and intriguing lyrics, this is the kind of sophisticated territory frequented by Rosanne Cash.
IOWA CITY PRESS CITIZEN
"A multi-instrumentalist and sterling tunesmith with an absolutely breathtaking voice, Minneapolis native Cohen has shown admirable musical adventurousness in her relatively brief career...On her solo debut, "California," Cohen steps away from confining genres, opting for a broader, classic singer/songwriter approach that brings elements of her previous work to a memorable collection of original songs."
MPLS. ST. PAUL Magazine
"...Cohen's new album revisits the turf she trod in the late '80s with the bluegrass-tinged rock outfit Farm Accident, but it does so with a maturity and sophistication that make California perhaps the finest work of her career. The songs are meticulously crafted, and the arrangements, replete with layered guitars, Dobro, mandolin, lap steel, and dulcimer, benefit from studio skills honed by her electronic work. But its Cohen's voice-always strong, but now showing far more range and subtlety-that puts the album over the top."
MPLS STAR & TRIBUNE
Cohen is one of the strongest female voices in all of popular music...
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BIOGRAPHY
BARBARA COHEN
Barbara Cohen is an award winning, Los Angeles based, singer-songwriter, guitarist, and mandolin player hailing originally from Minneapolis MN who is known for her rich, resonant voice, and heartfelt, poetic lyrics. Cohen has recently released California, her third and long-awaited 2004 follow-up album on her own independent label Girl and Her Monster Records.
Cohen is perhaps best known for her work with the group Brother Sun Sister Moon that she formed with techno pioneer Paul Robb. Virgin Records signed the band in 1997 and Cohen relocated to California. Brother Sun Sister Moon had earned a cult following and critical attention with their independent release The Great Game, described by College Music Journal as "One of the best Female-singer/male-techie collaborations since the Eurythmics." In Los Angeles, Cohen and Robb produced a second album, Luminous, before disbanding to pursue independent projects.
During Brother Sun Sister Moon's four-years together, their blend of sophisticated global grooves, folk/blues roots and tripped out electronics attracted the attention of English rave dignitaries Orbital, resulting in "Way Out," a four-way collaboration included on Orbital's big beat-techno classic "Middle of Nowhere". The song "Bangkok" was also chosen by film director Jonathan Kaplan for his movie Broke Down Palace (FOX Films). Cohen's ethereal vocals earned her an invitation from the band Air to sing on their hit cut "Radian" included on their release 10,000 HZ LEGEND.
Cohen made an early mark on the 1980s Minneapolis music scene as co-founder, lead vocalist, and instrumentalist with the band Farm Accident. This eclectic hillbilly folk group released a CD titled Vane on Red House Records. Farm Accident became a fervent public favorite and enjoyed popular regional success with regular performances at prestigious festivals including the Winnipeg Folk Festival and a multitude of clubs and special events. The group also garnered media attention such as National Public Radio's "Mountain Stage." Cohen continued experimenting with musical ideas when she later formed Little Lizard, adding her skills with the mandolin. This dark, mesmerizing band combined cello, fretless bass and African drums.
Among Cohen's many accolades is the 1997 Minnesota Music Award for "Artist of the Year" and "Songwriter of the year," and the 1995 Minnesota State Arts Board Fellowship Grant for Artistry and Composition.
Cohen co-produced California with Cisco DeLuna, a multi-instrumentalist who plays everything from accordion to lap steel (Waylon Payne Universal Music, Keith Gattis w/ Dwight Yokem). During the recording of California, Cohen was also joined by talented musicians: Michael Chaves (John Mayer, Sarah McLachlan) on electric guitar, Milo De Cruz (Ryan Adams, Duncan Sheik) on bass and Jimmy England (Garrison Star, Peter Himmelman) on drums.
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