OFFICIAL: http://joshbirdsong.com/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/JoshBirdsong
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/joshbirdsongmusic/
Written
by Jason Snyder, posted by blog admin
Nashville’s
Josh Birdsong certainly didn’t fall into trend based on location. The psychedelic, graceful organically grown
indie rock heard on his second EP, Where the Light Bends, flirts with
everything from 70s German influences (think Ash Ra Tempel’s electronica era)
to the layered modern trips of Animal Collective. Opener “Complex Context” enforces these comparisons
while establishing Birdsong’s own unique take on quirky, progressive indie
rock. A simplistic driving beat and
buoyant bass lines push along a cascading waterfall of effects laden guitars,
synth counterpoints and a distinct touch of English shoegaze.
Second
cut “The Sound Beneath the Static” may not pack in the tempo changes or
technical flash but from a compositional/texture standpoint its swirling
keyboards, trembling vocalizations, soft percussiveness and delay/echo/loop
guitar pedal flourishes concoct a rich, lush atmosphere of melancholy gravitas
filled with hooks that stick to the brainstem.
“Cloud 8” mashes together multiple string, electronic and vocal tracks
for a drippy, mind-altering brew that never outright becomes “rock n’ roll” but
never gets boring either. A solid foundation
of bottom end held together by the bass guitar and electronic beats keep things
low to the ground yet the constantly morphing guitar work, soulful vocals and
heavenly keyboards lift the music higher up in the atmosphere. Musically, this stuff would be perfect for an
arthouse film and oftentimes the arrangements feel cinematic in scope.
The
droning, ethereal hum of “Too Much to Hold” unfolds even slower than the
preceding tunes but rewards the patient listener with guitar chords that
constantly build towards scenic majesty as Josh’s voice reaches numerous
melodic crests. Keyboards slowly fill in
the space around the guitar; twinkling like stars falling across a serene night
sky. There’s a blues-based ambience
threaded throughout the guitar work here that adds a slight groove to the cozy,
comfortable melodies.
“Arctic
Desert” is one of the EP’s finest highlights.
Utilizing a finger tapping guitar style to accentuate each note the
music packs in a lot of energy despite focusing on minimalism. It works up a hypnotic trance that Pink Floyd
fans could relate to. The tripped-out
keyboards show equal love to soundtrack style psychedelic bands like Goblin or
Zombi as well as darkwave and ambient techno musicians. Thanks to some juicy guitar twang and soaring
vocals, Birdsong manages to craft a stylistic take that on these varying sonic
ideas that are distinctly his own.
Closing things off, the title track conjures up catchy vocals and
ever-flowing guitar tapestries that relish dream-pop influences.
Where
the Light Bends might not have a lot of variation in tempo or style within its
set parameters but it shines as a front to back whole that keeps you holding on
for the ride and firmly entrenched in its glowingly gorgeous songcraft. It’s that feature that makes Josh Birdsong an
extremely unique talent and a developing artist that you’re going to want to
keep on an eye on after hearing Where the Light Bends.
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