Customer Reviews

Upper Air [+digital booklet]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I happened upon this band after watching them perform on NPR's All Songs Considered Podcast. I bought the mp3 on Amazon right away (what a deal for $5!)

This band exemplifies the kind of lo-fi beauty that represents the very best of Indie music. When I just want to listen to something soothing and beautiful, I turn this album on.

Looking forward to exploring their other works, hoping it sounds similar to Upper Air.

Despite the fact that this album has barely left the turnable in the past 18 months I cannot tell you till this day how "Northern Lights" managed to appear on my I Touch. Frankly I had never heard of the Bowerbirds and my life was no worse for it, that said it is now vastly improved. The "Northern Lights" is a wonderful country love song that is sparse in its modesty and yet it gently boils until you appreciate the full majesty of it all. See the band perform it brilliantly on You Tube live from the Digital Arts Entertainment Lab. It is pitch perfect, avoids becoming overwrought and has Appalachian charm that many country songs sorely lack. I love the second verse in particular -

"And I don't need you to catch my wanderin mind

And I don't expect a southern girl to know the northern lights

And all I want is your eyes

In the morning as we wake

For a short while"

This album and the excellent debut "Hymns for a Dark horse" (check out the accordion driven "In our talons") are not going to grab you instantly. It is a slow almost ponderous grower but it when it clicks is becomes a true friend. NME described it "as delicate, cloud-drifting Americana" which is spot on and is demonstrated most clearly on the surging "Teeth". Vocalist Phil Moore reminds me of the great Elvis Perkins while his girlfriend the uniquely named Beth Tacular provides strong melodic support throughout (surely her friends must nickname her "Spec"?). Other standouts include "House of Diamonds" where Ms Taculars singing comes to the fore throughout the chorus and the strong lyrics declaring that "You are free from the greed of your culture / you are free from the lust for the luster of the diamond houses in the city's cluster."

- "Chimes" starts with a gothic organ and is a great song although if i have one gripe the version on the free Daytrotter session is in my view much sweeter and stronger.

- "Silver Clouds" is possibility the sparest acoustic song on the album and one of the loveliest. This is until the last minute of the song when more dramatic "orchestration" occurs - namely drums kick in!

- "Beneath your tree" - is the most upbeat song here and like "In our talons" is accordian driven and sees Moore and Tacular sharing vocal duties.

I am still not certain about "This day" and reserve judgement on it. "Crooked lust" alternatively is underpinned by gorgeous guitar lines and is possibly the strongest song in the whole set. Upper Air and Hymns for a Dark Horse could be treated as a double since they compliment each other beautifully. Some would argue that this is lazy and represents little natural progression. Frankly I dont care, both albums are full of excellent songs and killer boy girl harmonies which are traditional but evocative. This music will never sell copious U2 amounts of records. Neither will it frankly generate huge excitement when you listen to it. What it will do is provide you with 10 songs that are heartbreakingly tender, beautifully crafted and set out a wondrous narrative. I for one dont really want much more than this...

Similar to The The Tallest Man on Earth, but sounds a little thin at times. The vocals remind me of Iron&Wine, not the content but the style in which they are sung. Key tracks: Teeth, Northern Lights, Crooked Lust.

Nice record if you like Bon Iver, The Microphones and Americana.

Lyrics are very simple yet very poetic.

Sounds awesome on vinyl.

My Fav. record on this winter time.