Mark Barrott – Sketches From An Island – 2LP

“There are two or three things that I’m very strong on that people are missing that modern society isn’t providing: One of them is nuance, the second is subtlety, and the third one is a sense. There’s a very important sense that I think people are missing and that’s tactility, the importance of real things.”  Mark Barrott

Mark Barrott said that if he was going to take the plunge and do his own label, it would be done on his terms and that meant applying personal life philosophies from his strong work ethic to his creativity, passion, and drive to continually improve. Bespoke is the word that he settles on most often.

All of these qualities are embodied in his debut LP for the label, Sketches from an Island. In July 2014, it is a lasting statement both inside and out, with gorgeous cover art that recall bird paintings from the Audubon Society and an expansive palette of sounds that draw from Padilla’s earliest days selling cassette mixtapes in Ibiza’s Es Canare and Las Dalias outdoor markets.

Like those early tapes, Sketches is a survey of sounds both retro and modern, from the new wave jungle adventure soundtrack “Dr. Nimm’s Garden of Intrigue & Delight” with its chirping field recordings and synth arpeggios to the sprawling tropical meditation “Formentera Headspace Blues Pt. 1 & 2” with its Hawaiian slide guitar, plucked thumb piano, and near-buried trip-hop rhythm

Judging by the success of International Feel’s catalog and the buzz around Barrott’s record—including a glowing review from respected online outlet Resident Advisor—it’s clear that there are a lot of people out there that can, and will, buy that. And while Balearic’s ‘anything goes’ appeal and balmy vibe may be what initially draw us in, it’s the craft and the care that keep us coming back around to hear where Barrott, International Feel, and even the artists that inspire him go next.

Excerpts of the Barrott’s interview taken from Dialogue Interview

Listen Here: Mark Barrott - Baby Come Home