Bowerbirds – Upper Air

It’s in the cymbals, I said to myself, those strokes of minimalism are what do it; they are what inflict the dark hued tensions of Upper Air. I reclined in satisfaction while still listening to the album. And when I was most comfortable I heard through the speakers, ‘€œAnd I do need the grass to sway/Yes I do need to know my place.’€ My mind raced with excitement. What about the lyrics? And these climbing melodies? Or the lifting harmonies? And the form? God, have I overlooked the form? It was then I knew the only conclusion I was going to come to was that it worked. It worked and was right.

Upper Air is one of the best releases I have heard this year. As their last album, Hymns for a Dark Horse, Phil Moore’s guitar playing and singing are still wonderfully round and Beth Tacular’s accordion parts and harmonies added a layer of support that heightened the intensity of the music. I would never claim that they are repeating their last success though. Upper Air takes a very different approach to space and at first I was put off by it; my ears begged to hear the sparse percussion and single violin that Hymns for a Dark Horse had, but after listening through a few more times I realized Upper Air is an incredible new strain of Bowerbirds’ music.

Though more space is filled in, Phil’s voice cuts through the music really well in songs like ‘€œBeneath Your Tree’€ and ‘€œChimes.’€ Because of this cut, the lyrics have more attention called to them and with lines like, ‘€œyou own the stars you own the thunder but you have to share’€ they deserve it. The climax of the album for me comes at ‘€œNorthern Lights.’€ This song has beautiful movement and such controlled pacing that by the time the bridge explodes I was right with it. I can’t wait for their next album because there are only good things to come.

Recommended Tracks: Beneath Your Tree, Chimes and Northern Lights

Rating: 4.3/5