"A labor of love. A lesson in patience and learning to count your blessings."
New Orleans funk-rock band The Duane Bartels Band continue to bring their rock and funk-filled bluesy Americana sound with the release of their brand-new 10-track album, Electric Baby Carriage.
Expanding the band’s work with a more finely tuned electric sound, the 10-track record showcases The Duane Bartels Band’s aptitude for songwriting with a multitude of genres and sounds of the likes of funk, americana, and blues. The band include a combination of their unique vocals, lyrical sensibilities, and guitar playing with the power only a tight rhythm and horns section could provide.
The primary theme of the album is the notion of unrequited love. The energetic and driven composition of the album effectively evokes each and every mood and common association linked with this overarching theme; longing, nostalgia, determination and tranquillity.
The opening track ‘Nothing Left’ was written about loving someone but unsure if it will work, so there’s a back-and-forth experience happening trying to make it work. The instrumentation following the story is enlightening before the situation comes to an end with the realisation it's over and it’s not going to ever work out.
‘Paper Mache’ is a journal entry of sorts about their thoughts over meditation practice as it’s shaped them into something more positive. The inspiration was taken from making the mistakes which led them to a place of peace. As the production captivates the listener from the very first note, the instrumentation of guitars, drums, bass, keys, organ, sax, trombone, trumpet, tambourine adds a certain vibe that is gripping.
‘Every Song’ makes use of the band’s three-piece horn section to great effect adding an eclectic sound. The groovy drum patterns and choppy guitar lines and intriguing bass lines under the vocal performance makes the dynamic of sound and singing an infectious number on the album.
‘Messin’ tells the tale of being mistreated and used in various relationships, romantic and otherwise. It’s a resonating song that will hit home for many. The production includes a strong sound with guitars, drums, bass, keys, organ, sax, trombone, trumpet, tambourine, female vocals, and harmonica.
‘Wildfires’ is a love story to their family and friends, yet also an invitation for others to come see the beauty of their home state in California. It also floats around the idea of bringing someone they love back to see it with them. The endearing storytelling will pull on the listeners’ heartstrings. The production is just as heart wrenching with instruments including guitars, drums, bass, keys, organ, sax, trombone, trumpet, tambourine, female vocals, and harmonica
‘Always Got You On My Mind’ is a re-recorded track from their last record. It describes the feeling you get after a break up when everything reminds you of that person, even though you know it will never work out again. It’s a bittersweet love song.
‘Passion Project’ came to the band in a fever dream. It tells the tale about letting go of addictions, even though one may hope to see them again. They decided to have no limits on this particular track, hence the name. The sound clips in the beginning were recorded on the streets of the French Quarter. They managed to capture a strange laugh during the recording process for this too. Their engineer's house was very much haunted, so it’s kind of hard to hear it with everything over the top of it but adds to the spooky feeling of the song.
‘Waiting’ is about a situation where someone is left teetering on the edge of a friendship and romance. The eternal wait for the other person to make up their mind is present on this track. With a mix of instruments of guitar, drums, bass, keys, organ, sax, trombone, trumpet, tambourine, and strings, drive the production even further
‘Thinking of You’ is an endearing love song. It was initially written as a vague gesture to the universe, but became about a singular person as time went along. The infectious guitar and strings section bring this song to life, along with the storytelling sung in a beautiful manner.
Closing out the record, ‘Hurricane’ is a metaphor about the destruction of a relationship. It’s about holding on after seeing the worst of each other and hoping the other person is still there after the storm is long gone. The hard-hitting storytelling and fantastic production that ends this album makes it all that more significant.
There’s a lot of versatility on, Electric Baby Carriage, making this a testament to The Duane Bartels Band’s musical catalog. The 10-tracks proudly showcases the band’s incredible musical talents.
Electric Baby Carriage, follows The Duane Bartels Band’s debut album, The Ballad of Johnny Loveless.
The Duane Bartels Band are Matthew Duane Bartels (singer-songwriter), Matthieu (drums), Colin Provensal (bass/keys), Nick Ferreirae, (sax), David Ginger (trombone) Jonathan Rizner (trumpet), and John Marcey (guitar).