Scott's Song by Song #70: Richard Barbieri - Hauntings

Welcome to issue #70 of Scott’s Song By Song (#scottssongbysong).For more information about this series, click here: 

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While best known by many who will read this as the keyboardist in Porcupine Tree since 1993’s “Up the Downstair” (unofficially, he became a full member on 1995’s “The Sky Moves Sideways”), Richard Barbieri’s music career stretches all the way back to 1974 when he was one of the co-founders of the UK band Japan, who evolved from a glam band into a art rock/new wave band by the time of their break-up in 1982.  Most of Japan would reunite as Rain Tree Crow for one album in 1991. Following the initial break-up of Japan, he formed a band with his fellow Japan bandmate Steve Jansen called The Dolphin Brothers, which lasted until 1997, along with playing on solo albums by another Japan alumnus, David Sylvian.  Since that time Barbieri has released countless solo and collaborative albums in addition to his Porcupine Tree duties.  This is his newly released solo album “Hauntings” which dropped on April 10. 2026.  The credits are as follows:

Line-up / Musicians

- Richard Barbieri / keyboards, synthesizer, percussion, effects, samples

With:

- Morgan Agren / drums, percussion (Kaipa, The Tangent and more)

- Percy Jones / bass (Brand X, Soft Machine and more)

- Luca Calabrese / trumpet (Isildur’s Bane and others)

Let’s give it a listen!

Track 1 - Snakes & Ladders (5:33)

Sustained chords with a dark, foreboding tone start us off.  By around the 40 second mark, a rhythm begins to emerge.  Percy Jones’ bass lines set a jazzy feel with Luca Calabrese’s trumpet taking the lead.  It sounds like a drum machine on this track, so I don’t think Morgan Agren is present on it.  Gradually, Barbieri's keyboards take the spotlight.  This is a “chill-out” kind of track. Very mellow but well done.  Jones’ bass playing is the highlight for me.

Track 2 - Anemoia (5:08)

I believe we have live drums on this but played with brushes.  This one has more of a new age feel to it.  I think that a drum machine has joined the live drums to blend together.  At about the midway point, the rhythm section drops out but returns just after the 3-minute mark.  At around 3:40 the percussive sounds take over entirely.  Another well-done mellow track.

Track 3 - Victorian Wraith (3:02) 

Dissonant sustained notes start us off here.  For whatever reason, I got the impression of a werewolf movie from the 1940s at the opening of this track.  This track consists of mainly atmospheric sustained tones that fade in and out, panning from left to right.  But it’s done in an interesting way and doesn’t overstay its welcome.

Track 4 - 1890 (3:58)

This seems to pick up where the other left off.  This one has some sounds that suggest a thunderstorm in the distance.  Thus far, this album is SO MELLOW.  At around 2:50, a rhythmic melody begins to emerge from the din.  It does not develop as much as I had hoped.  Still, the track seems to achieve what it is meant to achieve.

Track 5 - Artificial Obsession (5:07)

This one begins with a moderately slow drum groove, somewhat tribal in its feel.  There is a processed female spoken voice saying “you are the hands of my clock” just before one minute, and she continues with other phrases intermittently in the rhythmic groove.  So far this is my favorite track on the album. The groove is making me move as I type this.  At around 4 minutes, Barbieri plays a few lead keyboard phrases as the song approaches its conclusion.  Nice track!

Track 6 - Paris Sketch (5:47)

The opening sounds, I believe, are a manipulated electric piano.  We are mellowing out again, but there is a sense of rhythm in the bass part.  At around 3:10 there is a single tone like a doorbell. A soft drumbeat enters around 4:45 which helps bring the track to its ending.  Good, but very mellow track.

Track 6 - Perfect Toys (3:47)

I get the impression of a rainforest here.  Luca is back on trumpet.  There is a subtle beat.  At around 2:20, there are some spoken word parts from a female voice, again, but very low in the mix and I didn’t catch what was said; they reappear at the end.  Pretty good track.

Track 7 - Traveler (5:41)

OK, a new wave groove here!  Perhaps harkening back to his days in Japan?  A lot of the keyboard tones seem to float out of the music.  There are some wordless female voice samples.   After a brief pause, the beat kicks in stronger around 3:20.  The beat stops at 4:30 and sustained tones take over.  Bass and piano join in at 5:00, to lead us to the ending.  Enjoyable track.

Track 8 - Reveille (1:54)

A scale pattern slowly emerges from the silence and builds on itself.  There are a few backing tones as well.  It then fades back out.  That’s about it.

Track 9 - Last Post (2:23)

Melancholy chords start this track.  They begin a slow crescendo, and the trumpet plays a mellow tune.  Another quiet, relaxing piece.  

Track 10 - A New Simulation (4:38)

The final track fades in with a clock ticking along with sustained sounds. A steady beat from the drums kicks in after the 1-minute mark.  The bass is subtle.  At around 2:40 there is a slide guitar tone, a-la, David Gilmour on “Breathe”. While no guitarist is credited (I can’t help but wonder if Mr. Wilson, is making a secret appearance here, but don’t quote me as I can’t prove it).  While still mellow, this track is the closest thing to a Porcupine Tree type of vibe on the album (but not quite).  I like it.

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS:

Objectively, this is a very well-produced and realized album.  I believe Barbieri created precisely what he had in mind.  The music is well played, and the production is clean.  However, from a subjective, personal standpoint, this album is just too mellow for my personal tastes to listen to as a whole on a frequent basis.  It is a good chill-out/relaxation type of album, and some tracks might even work on a meditation playlist.  The standout tracks for me are: “Artificial Obsession", “Perfect Toys”, “Traveler”, and "A New Simulation”.  I love what Barbieri does in the context of Porcupine Tree, where he builds soundscapes like these but Wilson, Harrison and (formerly) Edwin give it the heavier rock vibes.  I’ll give it a score of 3.75 out of 5 or 75% for my tastes.  If you are into mellow electronic prog like Tangerine Dream, you will probably score it higher.  I liked it, I just didn’t love it.

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Scott

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LINKS FOR LISTENING/BUYING:

The album can be listened to on YouTube in this playlist, which includes a music video for “Victorian Wraith”.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kXUVmx5WUJfiC74L_1cSl27QMYm0X1nIY&si=auYFoRZU4y1a1tMX

I found it on Apple Music here: 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/hauntings/1889900474

It is likely available on other streaming platforms as well.

If you wish to purchase it, it can be found in various CD and LP versions at Burning Shed:

https://burningshed.com/store/richardbarbieri

And to get an audiophile level 5.1 surround sound/ Dolby Atmos, etc. type experience, get it from Steven Wilson’s “Headphone Dust” shop:

https://headphonedust.store/products/richard-barbieri-hauntings?variant=54199829135689