There is elusiveness in White Birds’ self-titled debut release that is the most immediate difference to their previous project Drink Up Buttercup. While the cassette is a bit fractured in its flow, it shows a band with a fairly refined idea of their new sound and taking a big step towards realizing it. That being said, it is merely a sample of a full-length album that will come out later, so chances are the whole affair will flow more like running water. The one-time madcap retro-pop act cut back in members and antics in exchange for a harmony-laden, reverb drenched affair with their latest offering.
Its opening track “Hondora” is a slow-burning and constantly moving track that utilizes an almost Hawaiian sounding melody with Brian Wilson-esque harmonies. Singer James Harvey has a noticeably gentler delivery than he did in Drink Up Buttercup where he utilized his operatic training more, but again this band seems much less concerned with bombast and more with sculpting sun-drenched acoustic-pop songs. The introduction of the militant snare work in the end of the song keeps the track from staying in one place for too long and bolsters the previously sparse sound. “Floating Hands” follows in the same vein with a vintage 60’s pop meets Violent Femmes quirk that is more indicative of their earlier sound, but without replicating it.
The back half of the cassette is more focused on experimentation and atmosphere. The standout track is “Beehive” with its simple, mantra-styled refrain and world of ambiance built on rattling guitars and ethereal harmonies. The cassette closes with the sparse, mostly solo affair “Veins Lined with Rust”. Aside from a few choice harmonies, the song is a barely audible guitar line and a meandering vocal line and lyrical abstractions about a love no longer there. The focus of this cassette seems to be on atmospheric and sonic changes rather than dynamic or melodic ones. It shows some real promise for this reincarnation and the LP should see these already impressive ideas flushed out even more. You can purchase White Birds’ cassette or download HERE. – Adam G.