Formed in 2018 by LA-based songwriter Christopher Leopold, Human Barbie is described by the man himself as “analog lo-fi pop”.
It’s been over five years since Human Barbie’s well-received debut album, Get A Life, but thankfully, a second album, Paradise, is coming this May. “Fantasie” is the first single from that forthcoming album, and Christopher says that it is “both a birth and a death; the end of many chapters, a letting-go of perfectionism, a releasing of burdens that I’ve been carrying for far too long”.
The track opens with a delicate vocal, drenched in beautiful reverb, which creates a cavernous sound. The shuffling beat, regimented rhythm guitars, and the wandering bassline create an effortless groove. Each element has a hands-on grit and earthy richness. If you close your eyes, you can almost see the tape turning in the deck. Chris reaches up and plucks wonderful melodies from the ether, with ethereal backing vocals adding a silky depth.
I loved the stream of delightful melodic surprises – each phrase more enchanting than the last – with everything drenched in warm honey. However, this is also a melancholic tale of loss, with lyrics full of evocative imagery:
“With nothing to remember
But the color of her hair
And life’s fleeting ember
Painted everywhere”
“Fantasie” is an airy, psychedelic trip that keeps ascending in effortless, joyous ways. Take a listen below, and follow Human Barbie on their socials to learn more about Paradise and other news from the band.
Written by Grubby
