Richard Barbieri is one of the most influential sound architects in electronic music. As a synthesizer visionary in the art rock band Japan in the late 1970s and early 1980s, he significantly changed the direction of electronic pop—an influence that can be traced back to artists such as The Human League, Duran Duran, Gary Numan, and Talk Talk. In his long-standing collaboration with Steven Wilson’s progressive rock ensemble Porcupine Tree – most recently on the acclaimed album “Closure/Continuation” (2022) – he cemented his reputation as one of the most intuitive and distinctive musicians of his generation.

Hauntings is Barbieri’s first solo album since Under A Spell (2021) and deepens the thoughtful, darkly toned soundscape of its predecessor. Eleven instrumental soundscapes unfold between somber grandeur and restrained euphoria, influenced by a nostalgia for the past and the future—for things that never happened and yet haunt the imagination. Barbieri’s characteristic synthesizer textures and sound architectures are complemented by guest contributions from Morgan Agren (drums & percussion), Percy Jones (bass), and Luca Calabrese (trumpet).

The album unfolds a shadowy, creeping atmosphere: the music roams through the gloomy backdrop of a lantern-lit Victorian London and glides into grainy snapshots of Belle Époque Paris. These journeys into the past are contrasted by nihilistic yet euphoric flights into the future—exemplified in “Traveler” and “A New Simulation,” which are marked by the nervous modernity inherent in Barbieri’s strongest work.

This 2-disc edition in DVD-sized media book format contains the studio album on CD and a Blu-ray disc with Dolby Atmos, 5.1 surround, and high-resolution stereo mixes of the album—an immersive listening experience that allows Barbieri’s multi-layered soundscapes to be experienced in their full spatial depth.

Blu-ray

1. Snakes & Ladders (05:33)
2. Anemoia (05:09)
3. Victorian Wraith (03:02)
4. 1890 (03:58)
5. Artificial Obsession (05:07)
6. Paris Sketch (05:47)
7. Perfect Toys (03:48)
8. Traveler (05:41)
9. Reveille (01:54)
10. Last Post (02:23)
11. A New Simulation (04:38)

CD

1. Snakes & Ladders (05:33)
2. Anemoia (05:09)
3. Victorian Wraith (03:02)
4. 1890 (03:58)
5. Artificial Obsession (05:07)
6. Paris Sketch (05:47)
7. Perfect Toys (03:48)
8. Traveler (05:41)
9. Reveille (01:54)
10. Last Post (02:23)
11. A New Simulation (04:38)