Eight years in the making, The Barr Brothers are set to release their fourth studio album, Let It Hiss, on October 17th via Secret City Records. Far from a period of inactivity, this long-awaited record is a profound document of transformation, marking a pivotal shift for brothers Brad and Andrew Barr. Following individual projects and extensive touring with acclaimed acts, Let It Hiss sees the duo returning to their core, not just as musicians but as individuals reckoning with creative and personal blocks.
The title track, “Let It Hiss,” offers an anthemic first taste of the album’s ethos. As Brad Barr explains, the album emerged from a “breaking point” in 2022, prompting a necessary re-evaluation of their creative process and relationship. Andrew Barr adds, “‘Let it Hiss’ is what happened when we stopped pretending everything was fine and finally listened to what was actually going on.” This raw honesty permeated the recording process, with the brothers confronting unspoken tensions and personal struggles. The album’s title itself serves as an ethos, embracing “the discomfort, the imperfection, the struggle” rather than attempting to smooth it over.
Streaming Link: https://found.ee/letithiss-single
Produced by Brad and Andrew primarily as a duo in their Montreal studio with mix engineer Jon Low (The National, Taylor Swift, Bon Iver), Let It Hiss showcases their mastery of instrumentation and ability to coax otherworldly sounds. Yet, it also revels in joyous abandon, as heard on tracks like “Run Right Into It” featuring Elizabeth Powell of Land of Talk. The album also revisits their signature intimate folk, with “English Harbour” benefiting from the harmonies of Jim James of My Morning Jacket and “Moonbeam” featuring a Francophone guest vocal from Klô Pelgag. The album culminates in the surprising “Upsetter,” a punk-infused rock blast, demonstrating the Barr Brothers’ diverse and adventurous musical journey. Let It Hiss is poised to be their most personal and collaborative work to date, a testament to their authenticity and artistic evolution.
Pre-Order Let It Hiss (October 17th via Secret City Records): https://found.ee/boutique-thebarrbrothers