A great example of someone following their musical instincts into new areas and finding success, Bloodlines is also a highlight of the year so far.
As reserved as it is remorseful and romantic, Bloodlines is a moving, grand achievement.
As an album, Bloodlines is one catering for a particular types of mood – it’s a largely introspective record that occasionally brings with it some welcome variation. It requires a few listens to grasp but after that it’s pretty rewarding.
Although Bloodlines takes its time to get under your skin, when it does, it sinks in deep.
The closest ‘Bloodlines’ comes to rustic is its use of analogue synths and Casiotone keyboards.
Bloodlines is a really strong album. It is often on the quiet, more contemplative side, but Barbarossa definitely knows when to pick up the pace.
Although Bloodlines is a solid effort, it never seems to really take flight; alternately quiet and bold, it can’t seem to decide whether it wants to be a testament to Mathè’s artistic transformation or a kind of tentative experiment, to be abandoned if it doesn’t pan out.