Mark Barrott / The Exit Diaries / Anjunachill

Mark Barrott’s new album, The Exit Diaries, is divided into 2 distinct halves, each with its own title. “Light Variations” is a suite of 6 pieces, designed to be “Sunday morning music”. To my ears, the tracks are twinned with Japanese artist Calm’s “ambient jazz”. Opening with a low drone and smoky saxophone, immediately setting a romantic tone. Syncopation comes from celebrated drummer Leo Taylor. His slowly stirring whispers of cymbals accompanying Barrott’s warm Fender Rhodes. Building to swinging, funky post-drum & bass breaks, as the aching arrangements introduce strings and bubbling, blissed-out bleeps. The latter repeating, cascading like raindrops over rattling metallic snares and serenaded by soloing reeds. While created for sunrise, “Variation V”, in particular, is symphonic and cinematic. Reminiscent of the sort of emotive 80s film scores that Jose Padilla plundered for his White Isle sunsets. Taylor’s drumming also helps launch side 2, “The Stone Tape”. Driving the…