The Ghost Country, due for release in September 2009, is the sound of Clive Barnes at the top of his game as a vocalist, guitarist and songwriter.
His fourth studio album, The Ghost Country elevates Barnes to a truly unique sound having forged his style and delivery over years of touring the US and Europe with the likes of Eric Bibb, Taj Mahal, Jeff Beck, Alison Krauss, Seasick Steve, The Blind Boys of Alabama and many more.
As a musician, Barnes is highly regarded as one of the finest performers on the roots circuit, a reputation solidified by the lyrical and songwriting prowess on this new collection of songs.
From the rip-roaring banjo-fuelled opener of Shotgun Grin to the big sky foreboding title track of the album, right through to the closing track of Borderlines, this recording is populated with stories of characters running and returning, longing and dreaming, down on their luck and finally finding peace, characters so thick with realism you could feel them move right through you.
Out of the studio and onto the stage, Barnes is not to be missed as a live performer for this is where the sheer raw honesty and energy is each track comes to life.
RTE's Harry Guiren noted in a review of Clive Barnes performing at Vicar Street, Dublin, "Clive is a guitarist who can make one acoustic sound like six. Barnes transported the entire, hushed venue across the Atlantic to where the paths taken by the Delta Blues, Tom Waits and Bruce Springsteen all led to his own special territory."
The Ghost Country is released on Friday September 11th 2009 and will also be available to download via iTunes, Amazon and Amie Street.
