Birdeatsbaby - Here She Comes a Tumbling
By Dave Urwin
Now, I don’t mind admitting that I found the experience of listening to this album almost frightening in places. The slightly unsettling band name notwithstanding, a number of these tracks evoke the kind of images that usually only appear when you drift into a light sleep and experience vivid and kaleidoscopic dreams. A dizzying range of influences is apparent, ranging from prog to gypsy jazz to classical via a whole lot more. My one problem with ‘Here She Comes a Tumbling’ is that many of its tracks are mini symphonies featuring constant tempo changes and genre hopping and ironically this starts to become a little predictable over the length of the album. However, the world can be a deeply confusing and nonsensical place and Birdeatsbaby have captured this mood in an enchanting manner.
To list the number of genres we hear a twist of would be pointless, but if I was to attempt to pick stand-out tracks the haunting ‘Jim’ would be an obvious first choice. The lyrics possess wit of the kind Morrissey is best known for and are set against a backdrop of understated violin, crashing and tumbling piano and a pinch of military drums. ‘Jacqueline’ is a kind of 80s Eastern European folk pop gem that really shouldn’t make sense but is all the more wonderful for doing just that. The effect is akin to that of a laughable cooking experiment that somehow introduces a delectable new dish to your repertoire.
A couple of the most beguiling tracks here are the most simple. The title track, made up entirely of intertwining Celtic harmonies, is just over a minute in length but is absolutely spellbinding. Album closer ‘Letter to Charlie’ is just guitar and voice but still manages to transport the listener to the end credits of a particularly memorable American arthouse film. It could almost be a long lost Sonic Youth b-side – ‘Tie me down Charlie Brown, wrap me up in a hospital gown’ anyone?
Birdeatsbaby are clearly absolutely exploding with ideas and at times I felt like they tried to cram too many into a single song but overall this is an undeniably magnificent album and one that will probably be loved by anyone who appreciates interesting music. I wouldn’t dream of suggesting that they should rein themselves in but I see them as a band driving on a Romanian country road and having to swerve almost constantly to avoid potholes. If they are able to cross the border into Hungary and save the swerving for an opportune moment then I really believe that the results could be mind blowing. Definitely a band I will be keenly following the development of and for my money certainly one who are worth checking out.
www.myspace.com/birdeatsbaby
