Roger Cole & Paul Barrere: “Sail Away”

Roger Cole & Paul Barrere have always had the virtue of bringing out the best in each other and that is the case here again on the single “Sail Away”, taken from the album ‘Musical Schizophrenia’, out on Better Daze records. The duo has been touching on themes of life, death, love and environment with a poignancy any writer would sell their soul for during the last few years, and on this latest track they offer ‘a mellow, curiously upbeat glimpse into the soul of a man looking for unconditional love.’

The song is somewhat different from the typical Roger Cole & Paul Barrere fare you might have. It is a little ‘softer’, more Folk-Americana orientated, in a full acoustic guitar style you would expect from the likes of America, Crosby Stills Nash and Young or Jack Johnson. But while it doesn’t have the same ‘harder’ electric edge finish that a lot of their other songs have, there is still the same real ‘honest’ quality to the music that few modern artists maintain.

It’s melody as well as its lyrics are deeply meaningful. The listener is provided with deep insight and wisdom. All of which stem from Roger Cole & Paul Barrere’s self-reflection and ability to be creative enough at the time of putting it all to music.

The lyric describes the wish of a man to have someone love him until the end of his days. It is a typical male struggle with two driving natures – the spiritual nature and the animalistic nature. It is this irresolvable struggle that usually comes with a high cost of frustration and great concern during the latter years of our lives.

The song is successfully realized by both Roger Cole’s great vocal and Paul Barrere’s harmonizing. Again the musician work, completely executed by the duo, is just amazing. Cole handles bass and percussion, while both Paul and Roger take care of the guitars.

The upbeat music may deceive you into believing that it is simply a sweet song, but the lyrics will convince you of otherwise – which ultimately leads to the sometimes overused ‘bittersweet’ word. It couldn’t however be more appropriate in generally describing “Sail Away”.

Everything you likely already cherish about Roger Cole & Paul Barrere is present here, heartfelt and immaculate singing and harmonies, a strong and distinct composition from both artists, and superb musicianship. When it comes to specific songs, it’s more a matter of personal choices than objective hierarchies.

Some of the duo’s songs are particularly moving and fiercer – these are the ones I personally prefer – while other pieces are gentler but carry a wonderful dramatic undertow- case in point, “Sail Away”. Either way you’re still dealing with a thing of beauty – An example of the significant music that you can still expect in an era where everything seems to have turned grandiose, overhyped and stupid.

About Better Daze Records

Creating “music for the sake of music”, Paul Barrere and Roger Cole are the musicians and driving forces behind Better Daze Records. Wanting to avoid the guidelines set forth by big labels and distributors in the name of mainstream music, the two set out to create Better Daze Records. Through their own label, Barrere and Cole inject their own flavor of expression and creativity into each of their unique works.