TRACK REVIEW: Mark Barrett – ‘Tomorrow (One Day Away)’

Everyone loves the classic singer-songwriter. Dylan, Cash, Cohen – it’s impossible to not be taken over by the power of an acoustic guitar. That same feeling of warmth and comfort comes from Worcestershire singer-songwriter Mark Barrett. His crooning Northern voice accompanies melancholy acoustic guitar: perfect to just sit back and relax.

After releasing a gorgeous demo EP, Barrett has returned with a new single ‘Tomorrow (One Day Away)’.  This track perfectly reflects Barrett’s passion for music and storytelling, the tough times and happy memories intertwined as one. The mentions of Northern landmarks are reminiscent of 1978’s ‘Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs’ by Brian and Michael, although a more modern and authentic version. Barrett’s vocal is deep and expressive, he feels the words he’s written and conveys them exquisitely. Despite the rough periods of being “kicked” and “beat”, romance still forms – “the Irwell was flowing and so was her hair” – leaving a beautiful sentiment for the end of the track.

The key to the enjoyment of this song is its simple authenticity. Music now, in 2015, is increasingly fake, manufactured or just pretentious. Mark Barrett writes from the heart, performing his narrative with a sweet and earnest nature. He hasn’t changed this from his previous demo EP The Front Bedroom Sessions, in which he embodied the voice of the youth questioning the future of his generation. The evidence shows that Barrett has some great times ahead of him if he continues to make such positive and heartfelt tunes.

 

Elli Brazzill
@littlelionelli

Elli Brazzill

Elli Brazzill

I’m Elli, 20 and live in Manchester. I like good music, gigs, rice krispies, 7” singles and puns. Alex G, Day Wave, Jaws, Talking Heads, Best Friends, Mac DeMarco, The Strokes, Parquet Courts and Tyler the Creator are pretty cool aren’t they. @cometobrazzill on twitter.