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Reviews of "Bridge of Wings"

Canberra Times, May 1997

"Steve and Ros Barnes have been involved in much of the folk music activity around Perth for many years, members of several bands and participants in many interesting projects over that time. This, their second duo effort, follows on from their previous CD of a couple of years ago, with Steve writing the songs and Ros singing them.

Steve Barnes has a delightful ability to write an unpredictable song, going beyond a simple three chord structure and adding little lyrical and melodic twists and phrases to craft his songs in what is a distinctive and unique sound. Ros sings in a rich contralto, with the technical ability to handle all the demands the songs place on her voice, allowing her to delve into the emotional content of the songs.

The two have assembled a group of backing musicians and singers from amongst the west's best, building the arrangements around Steve's guitar, adding a most effective cello from Peter Grayling on several tracks and occasional dobro and pedal steel from Lucky Oceans as well as harmony vocals from Jenny Simpson, Ken Ferguson and Bernard Carney.

While there are certainly no dud tracks on the album, "This Old Tree" and Woman of Africa" stand out from a collection of songs which is as good as you will find anywhere. Add Ros Barnes powerful singing and this is a combination which should further cement this duo's reputation both in this country and abroad. To obtain a copy, contact them in Fremantle on 09 336 2220, and I'm sure they would be pleased to sell you one.."

Review by Graham MacDonald, Canberra Times, April 1997

Folk Rag, Brisbane

When I was asked to review this album, I agreed because I was familiar with Steve & Ros' music through their appearances at previous National Folk Festivals. Whilst I enjoyed their live performances, I now think (for me anyway) that there is nothing like a well-produced album to really show off depth of talent. With this CD, I have been able to sit down and really listen without the distractions of a large festival.

Here are two people whose standards are high in every area - from Steve's songcraft and clean guitar work , and Ros' expressive, clear voice, to their choice of studio and producer. This album is an absolute delight. Their guest musicians read like a Who's who of Western Australia folk - the ubiquitous cellist, Peter Grayling; Ken Ferguson (famous for his presentations of "The Singing Wire" and "Lord Franklin" at the 1987 and 1991 National festivals respectively, not to mention his time with Facial Expressions in the 70's and 80's); Bernard Carney; and even Lucky Oceans (of ABC Radio National's "The Planet") on pedal steel and dobro.

All tracks were written by Steve. Song themes range from conservation (The River Runs Deep) and the wider world (Woman of Africa), to growing older (Only Yesterday) and home-coming (Over the Horizon). The lyrics demonstrate a great depth of understanding, and are interpreted by Ros with conviction and sensitivity, and always with a wonderful clarity of diction. (I like to be able to hear all the words first time around!)

There is a good variety of arrangement, too, as well as of style. Some songs have a full complement of instrumental and vocal backing (Woman of Africa, Over the Horizon), while others require minimal accompaniment in order to highlight the lyrics. Only Yesterday is a lovely duet between Ros and Peter Grayling's cello. A quirky, but familiarly-themed inclusion is The Insomnia Jig, in which "Your head is awake but your body is yawning, And nonsense is running around in your brain" (something Folk Rag staff can relate to!). This features the mandola and dobro, an unusual combination, and has a decidedly Irish lean to it.

The Mississippi John Hurt-style Reason to Rhyme, shows the adaptability of Ros' voice (she sings blues beautifully), Steve's great guitar style, and Scott Wise's harmonica. The instrumental tracks on this album show that Steve's command of his instruments puts him right up there with the best. Sea Salt features clever use of harmonics, and The Red Engine has an Italian or maybe Galician feel to it, with mandocello and uilleann pipes, (played by John Deery), sharing the lead.

Some of the songs on this album, I had the pleasure of hearing last year in Canberra. Steve has a knack of writing songs (with choruses) that stay in your mind long after you've heard them. I'm also pleased to note that this recording has the same life to it as their stage performances. Produced with assistance from ArtsWA, this is a well-mixed, well-produced album, and it's great to hear from the other side of Australia!

Julie McGonigal, Folk Rag, Brisbane, June 1998.