So another month, another scatty female singer/songwriter…the press release biog is detailed and let’s not go there, it’s just a bit much… (let’s just say that some of its assertions sound like some kind of joke, but anyway)
It’s got a picture of a big cock on the front (calm down at the back), not sure which breed, but it befits the general theme of “burds”.
Sounding somewhat like Joanna Newsom, we start with ‘Red Kite’ (all tracks are named after burds, the feathered variety), very winsome and harpy (ok, she waitressed in a tea shop and bought a harp, as you do).
Lyrics talk of violence during the dreamy sweeps of sound. But some meatier sounds start to emanate, more Kate Bush, and some other treated sounds quite are quite original.
Next is ‘Gull’, which again starts with the bloody harp, but builds up with guitar and electronica beeps to something quite interesting; she certainly has a grasp of sound dynamics, and some torch lyrics, painting a bleak picture of something, or other.
‘Sparrow’ takes us even further into electro distortion, far better than the preceding tracks and far more direct – St Vincent comes to mind, or even Goldfrapp. This is majorly good, a smart choice of single, and shows mastery of far more than the basic schtick of the first impressions.
‘Magpie’ is again another complete change, to acoustic guitar and some odd drones – not sure if this quite works but an interesting experiment, more doomy electronica backing lending this a very warped sound.
‘Crow’ develops more doom-laden chords and is possibly the most fully developed track on the album, an almost conventional pop song wreathed in electronic backing and a truly weird mash-up chorus, quite startling and quite original. ‘Dove2’ is back to the harp, and last track ‘Hummingbird’ is very sparse, a dirge-like tempo and more of a requiem, which then turns into a beat stomping finale.
Betty’s was cynical about this but the burds have won me over – a truly barking debut, but in a good way.
