Planets and Persona

As an ex-founder of the new-wave pioneers Japan, Barbieri was a leader in creating the ground-breaking synthesiser sound that defined the band and influenced the likes of The Human League, Duran Duran, Gary Numan, Talk Talk and a whole raft of artists to follow. Together, the band record five studio albums culminating in the groundbreaking 'Tin Drum', which stayed in the UK Albums Chart for a year. Following Japan, Barbieri joined Steven Wilson to form the legendary progressive outfit Porcupine Tree, playing keyboards on all the band's albums since 1993 as well as releasing two striking solo albums: Things Buried and Stranger Inside. In 2017, Barbieri releases his most sonically expansive work to date. Planets and Persona is his third solo album, but the first to feature such a wide pallet of instrumentation. Vintage analogue synthesisers combine with acoustic performances and jazz elements, including some stark and memorable improvisations from a personally hand-picked group of musicians. Twisted voices are always present, though not in a language we can recognise.
Recorded across Europe in studios in London, Italy and Sweden, Barbieri has succeeded in creating his most ambitious solo release with a central theme of duality that runs through the album. The album is complimented with the stunning Icelandic ice cave scene on the cover of the gatefold sleeve, and the double LP is pressed on to 180 Gram heavyweight vinyl.