Quick, Before It Melts.

It feels like it was just yesterday that QBiM introduced you to the bespectacled, kalimba-playing Laura Barrett, and her EP, Earth Sciences. Barrett is back on the scene with a full length debut album, Victory Garden, released today on Paper Bag Records.

While the EP was a stark, spare affair, Victory Garden blossoms with strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion into a full, gorgeous sound. She's accompanied by a stellar list of guests, including Polari sMusic Prize nominee Basia Bulat on autoharp and vocals, Randy Lee (The Bicycles, Hylozoists and Lily Frost) on violin, Jeremy Strachan (Feuermusik) on clarinet, Lief Mosbaugh (Hidden Cameras) on oboe and viola, John Tielli (Metal Kites) on theremin, and featuring Paul Aucoin (Hylozoists) on vibraphones.

Barrett is hitting the streets to spread the word about her garden of earthly delights. She might even be heading to a town near you soon:

Sept. 28 – Toronto, ON - Word On The Street Festival (Eye Weekly Stage)
Oct. 4 – Montreal, QC - Sport Montreal Benfica - 3pm (POP Montreal)
Oct. 7 – Ottawa, ON - Mavericks
Oct. 8 – Guelph, ON - EBar
Oct. 9 – Peterborough, ON - The Spill
Oct. 11 – Kingston, ON - The Artel
Oct. 16 - New York, NY - Piano's
Oct. 19 – Fredericton, NB - Wilser's room
Oct. 20 – Moncton, NB - Aberdeen Cultural Centre
Oct. 23 – Halifax, NS - Coconut Grove (Halifax POP Explosion)

MP3: Laura Barrett "Robot Ponies"

Hype Machine: Laura Barrett