Ted Barnes - Short Scenes

Narwhal - 2002 - 46 minutes

William Orbit, Red Snapper, The Chemical Brothers. Beth Orton has guested on plenty of records, but this probably ranks as one of her most special. Barnes is Orton's guitarist and collaborator and while her track 'Ted's Waltz', which also appeared on the recent 'Daybreaker' album, is standout, there's plenty more here to warm to.

Largely instrumental, 'Short Scenes' loose, homemade feel needs patience, but Barnes' playing shines throughout and points to a musician who really should venture out on his own more often.

What he needs to do next time, is make the whole collection as arresting as 'Hope', his collaboration with Firstborn's Oisín Lunny. It's the one which completely backs up Barnes' desire to do soundtracks but also says that it would be a big shame if he was lost totally to cinema.

Harry Guerin

Tracklisting: The Incident - Hope - Glass Harmonica - Parisian Shuffle - Crooked Fable - Ted's Waltz - Toy Makers Son - Toy Piano Trip Up - Aftershow - Little Blue Fish - So Far Away - 9 Yrs in a Cage - Ghost ofMorcambe Pier