Thoughts on Lucy Barna's What I Know Is True
The songs on this album are breathed out from a whisper to a melody.
Lucy Barna playing live this past Saturday at Noisy Water Winery in Old Town Albuquerque. Photos by Clarke Condé.
Lucy Barna’s new album What I Know Is True treats the Madrid singer/songwriter’s songs softly and honestly. It is an album full of tight compositions and straightforward orchestration. It is a fair reflection of Barna’s years playing live but goes beyond that to make good use of the studio, allowing the songs to be absorbed without distractions.
There is a softness that comes through in Barna’s voice. The songs on this album are breathed out from a whisper to a melody, following the tone of the omnipresent harmonica. If you hadn’t heard her live and only knew Barna from this album you would think her voice had little power behind it. Oh so untrue! This album is merely a performance that doesn't need to compete with the loud motorcycles and cackling drunken tourists that often serve as her accompaniment on the summertime stages of Madrid, New Mexico. Barna has a pretty voice and it is great to hear it come through unstrained on this album.
Honesty comes through on this album as well. Whereas it True may be called Americana (the garbage term for a wide swath of lumped together music) it may not be called country. There is not much of a twang in Barna’s voice and very little scoot in her boots. Barna’s voice and lyrics are genuine, without veering into the easy cliches of being “Country” in the sense of either self-identification or musical genre. Even on the song “Heartland” where things could have gone south, she stays true. As a fan of the music we make here in New Mexico, I appreciate the distinction.
Barna is keeping up an ambitious touring schedule around the state on the heels of the release of What I Know Is True last week. While the live performances are well suited to the stages she frequents, it is truly a treat to hear these songs in the quieter, more contemplative atmosphire of a decent pair of headphones. Hopfully, we will hear more from her in both formats in the future.
By Lucy Barna