Photo:
When one of Gigwise’s favourite bands, Clor, decided to call a premature end to their imposing beginnings and inevitable steam train ride to success we couldn’t help getting a little emotional. Thankfully however, we can say goodbye to those tears and pick ourselves up into our smiles once again because mastermind Barry Dobbin has returned to apologise to us all and charm us with the equally inspiring sounds of his new band Barringtone.
The genius that lies within Dobbin is presented in a humble run of the mill, relaxed chap. Dressed in a simple jacket, worn jeans and baseball cap combination - he epitomises the modest of the modest. We sit in an underground office surrounded by busy hands bashing away at computers and answering calls on an adequately comfy sofa to discuss where he’s been and where he is going.
“If all else fails I’ll become a farmer.” Apparently Dobbin has been taking his time getting his fingers green and covered in plaster in-between his projects. A year and a half of his life had been encompassed by getting back to basics and nature by working in ‘normal’ jobs. Positions in agencies, gardens and plastering have enabled Dobbin to become somewhat of a jack of all trades, and it’s helped on a personal level too. “I’m getting better at gardening, I never use to be. I’ve got a proper garden now and everything. It’s coming up a treat.” Not your typical rockstar/musician quote eh?
Lets not forget how much of an impact Clor had on those fortunate enough to delve into their inimitable sound. Barringtone will fill that much needed dynamic expressively eclectic void that Clor left and Dobbin admires the progression he has made. Talking of his new band he says: “It’s a very different band to Clor because we record what we do live whereas before we would make it on a computer and get the band to play what we’ve made in the studio. So it’s like the reverse way round.”
Asked whether there are things he has been able to do differently that perhaps Clor restricted him with, he adds: “It’s all live drums. Nothing we did with Clor was live drums - it was all programmed. So I think that’s a massive thing, it is for me anyway and I think it’s important”
Barringtone is Dobbin along with bassist Connan Coolidge and drummer Boomer Opperman. The band got together through the Rochdale born man’s own initiative and a little help from his friends. Explaining how he recruited his team he reveals: “I’d met Boomer who plays drums because he played in a band called Plugs and I’d been to see him a couple of times and asked him to support Clor. I thought he was the best drummer I’d seen and it always amazed me the way he plays. So I got in contact with him out of the blue and said did you fancy trying something out, which he did.
“And then Connan was head hunted by a friend of mine who mentioned that I needed a bass player and next thing I know I was having a drink with Connan and he seemed to be the perfect man for the job.” He cheekily adds: “He did play a five-string bass which put me off for a while but then I got over it.”
Dobbin has always been able to endure most things because he is content with his own passion and abilities. He even informs me that he only really takes notice of bad reviews because he enjoys laughing at the obscure criticisms. He explains: “The worse ones are the best. ‘Only wankers listen to music like this’ – I’ve had that one before (laughs).” This is an honest man, a sincere musician solely making music for the purpose of his own enjoyment. “I don’t have to prove anything to anyone but me. I mean I do this because I enjoy doing it and if people take an interest in it then that’s good.” His former record company should have listened to this before they gave him and Clor the details of their vision.
I ask about how easy it was to leave a band on the brink of great things. He takes a moment to reflect before explaining about the demise of his former band. “I was ambitious in Clor and so was the record company but their ambition was clearly in one direction – a very radio orientated mainstream direction - whereas mine was to carry on making records that I would like to listen to ten years down the line. I mean record companies are machines that are devoted to churning these things out and know how to do it but I just didn’t feel comfortable doing it that way.”
One thing that is on its way is an album of Barringtone material. After releasing the highly infectious ‘Snake In The Grass’ earlier this year Dobbin informs me that the debut effort from the trio is currently scheduled to be finished at the beginning of September. They have once again entrusted the mind of Simian Mobile Disco’s Jas Shaw in producing the record. A wide-eyed look of admiration envelops over his face as he talks of the sessions with Shaw: “It’s been good. Really really brilliant. He’s a very smart guy who knows exactly what he’s doing. Flexible and capable.”
Dobbin has also made a conscious effort of not getting lost in his own creative freedom. After departing from Clor a world of musical orientation and avenues are at his fingertips but he explains how he likes to put some form of boundaries to his artistic endeavours. “I think a lot of good things come from restrictions. Lots of art has come from because people have put restrictions around it. If you have no restrictions then I think you can get lost in a mass of choice.”
A final question, rumours on forums circulated that Dobbin’s Dad was an MP for Rochdale so Gigwise tries to clear up the truth. “No”, is the blunt expressionless answer from the songwriter who refuses to divulge the vocation of his family member. We like a little mystery anyway. We also like the fact that Mr. Dobbin has returned once again and is as eager as ever to make a go of things. Just don’t leave us again.
