Lee Barker started suffering from severe panic attacks when he was 24. It began with a train journey where the train stopped in a dark tunnel. It got progessively worse from there culminating in Barker quitting his job and slowly retreating into the safety of the building he called home in Liverpool for fourteen years. And there he remained. He began to write songs and learn instruments which resulted in him recording an album at home.
Fourteen years later, now 37, under the recording moniker Little Name, Barker has been picked up by Maryland indie label Sleepy Records although he still cannot leave his house. They are distributing his album How To Swim And Live, a collection of indie-pop songs not unlike Super Furry Animals’ Gruff fronting Belle and Sebastian. Gorgeous songs they are too. Please listen.
MP3
Little Name – How To Swim And Live
[audio:https://nialler9.com/mp3/Little_Name_-_How_To_Swim_And_Live.mp3] [audio:https://nialler9.com/mp3/Little_Name_-_Tracy_and_I.mp3]You can buy his album of twelve songs, How To Swim And Live for just €8.50.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
I won’t be holding my breath for a live show so.
I like the songs. Can’t argue with the Gruff/B&S description.
grrrrrreat!
@Sean..hahaha No dont hold that breath. Even if I could get to a venue, Id be crushed by the amount of instruments Id have to play! hahaha 🙂 Id be the biggest one-man-band you ever saw..:)
@Sean..hahaha No dont hold that breath. Even if I could get to a venue, Id be crushed by the amount of instruments Id have to play! hahaha 🙂 Id be the biggest one-man-band you ever saw..:)
Thanks Niall for blogging about me and the nice things you said 🙂