Review from Is This Music Issue 26 - March 2007

"Rhubarb. A perennial plant, often used in cooking for its edible stems. The leaves, however, are highly toxic if eaten, and it’s widely considered to have a strong laxative effect. An interesting name for a one-man musical experiment, then.

Maybe the success of Conor Oberst is to blame, maybe technology has finally made the one-man band a financial possibility for wannabe musicians, maybe it’s just tough to find a decent backing group nowadays - but more and more closet musicians seem to be taking the DIY approach.

Luckily Rhubarb (real name Richard Haswell) is a cut above many of these self-made rock stars. The crackly intro to ‘Curtain Call’ probably felt like a good idea at the time, when in reality it becomes irritating after about ten seconds, but much of this‘Best of…’ compilation is unusually well-polished.

His half-spoken vocals aren’t always up to the challenges he sets them, but you can’t blame a man for trying and there are some genuine lo-fi gems to be dug up. The mechanical whirrings of‘Ill-maintained Fairground Contraption’ support moments of moving lyrical poetry, while the Jean Michel Jarre-like ‘Solid Ground’ provides the album’s heart, and its high-point.

Something of a mixed bag overall, but with a surprising strength of vision. Still not sure about the name, though."

Matchbox Records review :

"..Ending this extremely brilliant eclectic new music feast we have the appropriately titled " Curtain Call " from the wonderful, eccentric and heavenly melody maker RHUBARB .

Rhubard is actually bedroom musical genius Richard Haswell at work in a different disguise. He has been recording music for years and has played in many bands but is only now getting noticed for his extreme talent and creativeness.

This great leftfield acoustic based song is very different and a bit Mercury Rev like in a lo-fi experimental pop way. There are lovely distorted drum loops that thump in the background while lovely piano notes twinkle over Radiohead Spanish style guitars.

The vocals are melodic and distinctive and create a mood of escape that chills your mind out completely. A breath of fresh air with a twist of leftfield beauty.

You can also hear scratchy record sounds which indicates that either it was recorded before CD's were invented or Rhubarb has access to some rather modern recording software that can emulate that authentic analogue sound. We think it's the first but not sure yet. But anyway.....it's great and the perfect song to end this alternative, leftfield, acoustic , rock, electro, eclectic new music extravaganza.

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