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Barbez Pitches Their Tent in Athens

by Julia Raposo
03/08/2006



Imagine yourself visiting a dilapidated freak-show, complete with the bearded lady and the two-headed baby. Now imagine the music playing in the background. You've just envisioned the aura created by Brooklyn's Barbez. The self-described punk chamber-ensemble is at first dark and eerie, and you are unsure if you enjoy it or are simply intrigued by it. Upon further inspection, Barbez’s music is hypnotic, strange and original, all at once.

The band is comprised of seven musicians playing instruments such as the theremin, a marimba and a palm pilot. Barbez's vocalist, Russian-born Ksenia Vidyaykina sings with a deep voice which contrasts beautifully with the high-pitched ethereal sounds produced by the theremin, played by Pamelia Kurstin, and sounds like a string quartet mixed with an opera singer. Vidyaykina goes from otherworldly melodic semi-chants to angry explosions, but never loses the ability to mesmerize the listener. There is a sexy sadness to her voice which easily envelops you and forces you to enter Barbez's intricate and ornate circus.

Though the periphery of the music is odd and complex, the basic instrumentation is simple. Guitarist Dan Kaufman plays parts that are mostly acoustic arpeggios, and though Shahzad Ismaily's drumming is often intense, it is never overpowering. The music is very centered on the vocals, sometimes with Russian lyrics, which just adds to whimsical mystery of Barbez. Dan Coates, bassist and palm pilot commander, adds the stranger noises to Barbez's music. To top it all off, Danny Tunick plays the marimba and the vibraphone, whose light, repetitive beats give the music a humorous and playful quality.

Barbez, which has been together since 1997, was named after a multi-ethnic Parisian neighborhood where Kaufman once lived, and even to an untrained ear it is easy to capture the various cultural elements which Barbez mixes to create their sound. There are hints of tango, Russian folk music, and an eerie vaudeville Gypsy-esque ambience. The musicians cite backgrounds in jazz, classical, and rock; these broad influences and backgrounds conceive a one of a kind spacey mix of everything under the sun. Think Alice falling through the rabbit hole into a French back alley.

For live shows, Vidyaykina spices up Barbez's performance by doing some avant-garde dancing. I can only imagine what sorts of interpretive dancing goes along with Barbez's cabaret show. And they do not skimp out on performances. All the exotic instruments travel with the band. I must say I felt like I was traveling through a world directed by a crazier Tim Burton while listening to Barbez, and I am even more compelled to see them live than I was when I found out about the theremin. Their theatrical glamor is almost as appealing as their music.

Barbez will be playing with Tin Cup Prophette and Liz Durette at the 40 Watton March 11th. Their recently released third album, Insignificance, is available for sale on their website, and three songs can also be sampled on the site.