Hailing from the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia Michael Barry-Rec delivers an acoustic/steel soundscape that knows few boundaries.
His second full-length release, Streams In The Desert has proved to be a thirst quencher for music lovers far and wide. With hints of Ry Cooder, David Gilmour, David Lindley and William Ackerman - Michael harnesses his own unique brand of country tinged instrumentals. His ambient approach to Americana has yielded a carefully crafted album which features a number very fine musicians including Grammy winning pianist George Winston. Showing outstanding potential for film this disc was awarded "Acoustic Film Score Album of the Year" at the 2008 Los Angeles Music Awards.
Over the past two decades this master mason/musician has taken hundreds of tons of random shapes we call stone and given them purpose -and- has been diligently digging for musical treasures and giving them a voice - (a chemistry that has served this artist very well).
His debut, On The Road To North Mountain is an instrumental odyssey that definitely defies simple description. Organically rich acoustic guitar, soaring atmospheric lap steel supported by hammond organ arrangements make up the core of this gem. Progressive Ears magazine states, "Very rarely does something knock me off my feet like this disc from Virginia guitarist Michael Barry-Rec. This is music that needs to be heard and experienced." Music Street Journal says, "Sometimes words just don't do justice, such is the case here." Prognaut reviews exclaims, "This whole album is a highlight - one of the better independent, even major releases that has crossed my path in a long while."
Read more...