Tracks such as the opening “Vultures”, “Away”, and “Darkness is Light”, a track with a lush eastern vibe and shades of Grace Slick, create a superb visual atmosphere. “Away” has a simple yet hypnotic guitar chime, and “You Give Yourself Away” goes power pop with Amanda’s voice shining at the front. “Death Birds in Trees” is haunting and sensual with an immediacy that maybe a bigger studio may have tinkered with and lost. “Into the Sun” veers from commercial towards the edgy and back building around a central, lush theme. “Dragonfly Machines (Spy Birds)” ends the album with some wonderful musicianship.
This is an album that for some reason was self released. I have no idea why Death Birds was not picked up by a label but I am also kind of glad that it wasn’t. There is a freshness, a belief, a commitment and an intimate immediacy to this album that sets it apart and places it higher. So my advice, for what it’s worth, is to never be put off by the word experimental. After all if we had been, the sixties would never have happened and I’d be writing this by quill.
For more information about House of Badger, visit their website.
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