Spirit Exit

Spirit Exit
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 8, 2022 (2022-07-08)
Genre
Length55:56
LabelLight-Years
ProducerCaterina Barbieri
Caterina Barbieri chronology
Fantas Variations
(2021)
Spirit Exit
(2022)
Myuthafoo
(2023)

Spirit Exit is a studio album by Italian composer Caterina Barbieri.[3] It was released on 8 July 2022 through her record label Light-Years.[4] It received universal acclaim from critics.[5]

Background

Spirit Exit was written and recorded in Caterina Barbieri's home studio in Milan, during a two-month COVID-19 lockdown period in 2020.[6] She drew inspiration from Teresa of Ávila, Rosi Braidotti, and Emily Dickinson.[4] The album incorporates vocals, guitar, and strings, in addition to synthesizer.[4] It includes an alternate version of "Knot of Spirit", the original of which was released in 2021 with vocals from Lyra Pramuk.[6] A music video was released for the track "Broken Melody".[4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic82/100[5]
Review scores
SourceRating
Crack7/10[7]
Loud and Quiet7/10[8]
Pitchfork7.6/10[9]
Uncut8/10[10]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Spirit Exit received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 82 out of 100 from 5 critic scores.[5]

Shrey Kathuria of Loud and Quiet wrote, "Equal part blissful and mysterious, Barbieri's arpeggiated synth passages narrate an abstract story that is both melancholic and charged with energy."[8] Linnie Greene of Pitchfork stated, "Layer by layer, Spirit Exit unfolds odd-couple pairings of electronica with elements inspired by minimalism, classical guitar, and machine learning."[9] Louis Pattison of Uncut commented that "A mood of high seriousness pervades, but Spirit Exit's blend of spirituality and futurism is often transfixing."[10] Nic Renshaw of SLUG stated, "Between the fearless stabs at high-art poptimism and the extended exercises in hi-fi cosmic beauty, Spirit Exit offers just about everything a fan of cerebral, creative electronic music could want."[11]

Accolades

Year-end lists for Spirit Exit
Publication List Rank Ref.
NPR The 50 Best Albums of 2022
35
NPR The 11 Best Experimental Albums of 2022
Slant Magazine The Best Electronic Albums of 2022

Track listing

All tracks are written by Caterina Barbieri.

Spirit Exit track listing
No.TitleLength
1."At Your Gamut"7:06
2."Transfixed"5:13
3."Canticle of Cryo"7:42
4."Knot of Spirit (Synth Version)"10:19
5."Broken Melody"4:26
6."Life at Altitude"7:49
7."Terminal Clock"5:01
8."The Landscape Listens"8:17
Total length:55:56

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.[13]

  • Caterina Barbieri – production, mixing, art direction
  • Carlo Maria – MC-202 (6), additional mixing (2, 3, 5, 7)
  • Antoine 'Chab' Chabert – mastering
  • Ruben Spini – art direction
  • Nicola Tirabasso – design
  • Furmaan Ahmed – photography

Charts

Chart performance for Spirit Exit
Chart (2022) Peak
position
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[14] 45
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[15] 41

References

  1. ^ a b "The Best Electronic Albums of 2022". Slant Magazine. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  2. ^ a b "The 11 Best Experimental Albums of 2022". NPR. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  3. ^ Simpson, Paul. "Caterina Barbieri". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d Cetin, Marissa (21 April 2022). "Caterina Barbieri announces new album, 'Spirit Exit', shares track: Listen". DJ Mag. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  5. ^ a b c "Spirit Exit by Caterina Barbieri". Metacritic. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  6. ^ a b Eede, Christian (20 April 2022). "Caterina Barbieri Details New Album, 'Spirit Exit'". The Quietus. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  7. ^ Baines, Josh (11 July 2022). "Caterina Barbieri: 'Spirit Exit' review". Crack. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  8. ^ a b Kathuria, Shrey (18 July 2022). "Caterina Barbieri - Spirit Exit". Loud and Quiet. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  9. ^ a b Greene, Linnie (8 July 2022). "Caterina Barbieri: Spirit Exit". Pitchfork. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  10. ^ a b Pattison, Louis (August 2022). "New Albums". Uncut. p. 25.
  11. ^ Renshaw, Nic (11 July 2022). "Review: Caterina Barbieri – Spirit Exit". SLUG. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  12. ^ "The 50 Best Albums Of 2022 (40-31)". NPR. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  13. ^ Caterina Barbieri (2022). Spirit Exit (CD booklet). Light-Years.
  14. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  15. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 December 2025.

Further reading