CD Review – Sketches from an Island, by Mark Barrott

The first release by Mark Barrott under his own name is, as the title suggests, a breezy musical affair inspired by the isle of Ibiza, which has been the artist's residence for several years.

Just like the aviary and flora and fauna of its cover, the album has a tropical feel overall, even as it reflects several musical influences from different corners of the globe.

The music has an infectious back beat thanks to rhythmic percussion and dynamic bass lines, the latter of which Barrot was renowned for in his DJ heyday in the United Kingdom. Add to that new age/rock synthesizer washes, hipster classical guitar, and electric fusion guitar, and you have a recipe for an eclectic mix of ambient and world music flavors.

This is an auspicious debut that bodes well for future editions from this interesting musician.

--Raj Manoharan