Guitarist and songwriter Brad Barr of the Montreal-based indie-folk band The Barr Brothers has just released an unusual solo record of instrumentals, The Winter Mission -  “a kaleidoscope of sound” (Schaefer), featuring many different members of the guitar family, loops, and the shruti box (used to provide the drone in Indian classical music.) Over the 12 songs of the album (and perhaps 216 notes), there is “a gorgeous unsettledness that resists the drift into background music," (Missing Piece Group.)

The conversation flows around the fixed numbers of baseball, the numerology of 216, the creative use of loops and delay, and the sounds of the Blues in other traditional music around the world. Brad Barr plays remotely for the Soundcheck Podcast, and there’s even a gong. Set list: “Ancient Calendars,” “Baseball,” “Your Dad’s Awake”

Watch "Ancient Calendars":

Watch "Baseball":

Watch "Your Dad's Awake":