St. Barbe’s debut EP Shoal deserves a place in the ever expanding wave of creative music coming out of the prog and prog‑adjacent world. For those unfamiliar with this London‑based trio, their Bandcamp tagline captures the essence well: “Dissolving the lines between math rock, jazz and electronic music, St. Barbe create a rich and expansive sound world fuelled by high‑octane improvisation, ethereal textures and complex beats.”
That certainly hits the proverbial nail on the head, though I would add melodically rich and groove oriented to the list, something that surfaces immediately in the EP’s opening track. The band locks into an infectious, metrically ambiguous pulse, with James Maltby’s guitar setting the tone while Ed Ireland’s bass threads beautifully around it. Floyer Sydenham’s drumming holds everything together with a blend of precision and imagination, keeping the groove taut. Subtle keyboard colours drift in and out, widening the sonic palette without ever cluttering it. The rhythm section stays tight yet adventurous, giving James Maltby’s sweet, lyrical lines room to shine. And just when the track feels fully settled, a Spanish‑tinged guitar solo lifts it into an entirely new light, an unexpected but deeply satisfying flourish.
In contrast, the jazzy Pinch brings an almost big‑band swagger to the EP. The band leans into a deliberately uneven swing, with the low end kept intentionally murky before being pierced by muted brass lines. Guest musician corto.alto adds a burst of dynamic trombone that elevates the arrangement. It’s a wonderfully audacious track, and one that fleetingly recalls the exuberance of Thank You Scientist.
James Maltby’s mellifluent, jazz infused guitar opens Dorothy, setting a warm, lyrical mood that the band supports with tasteful restraint. It’s a sublime, contemplative piece and a welcome moment of calm before the closing title track.
Shoal, perhaps the EP’s most adventurous offering, is a veritable smorgasbord of textures and ideas. Delayed guitar lines sweep across the stereo field, interwoven with a rich tapestry of six‑string embellishments. Gritty, synth‑like bass growls anchor the piece, while a drifting, repetitive keyboard motif adds flashes of colour as it surfaces and recedes. Throughout, the rhythm section remains imaginative and impeccably tight, grounding the track’s shifting landscape.
A debut this confident and distinctive marks St. Barbe as a band well worth watching out for.
TRACK LISTING
01. Tierra (4:24)
02. Pinch (4:37)
03. Dorothy (5:20)
04. Shoal (4:23)
Total Time – 18:44
MUSICIANS
James Maltby – Guitar, Keyboards
Floyer Sydenham – Drums, Keyboards
Ed Ireland – Bass
~ With:
corto.alto – Trombone (2)
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Independent
Country of Origin: UK
Date of Release: 18th February 2026
LINKS
St. Barbe – Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube | Instagram
