BirdEatsBaby - Feast of Hammers

  by Maarten Schiethart

published: 18 / 3 / 2012

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Brighton-based combo Birdeatsbaby love a bit of dark cabaret and from the outset on this, their fourth album, their songs evoke strong imagery. Built on rolling piano play 'n' riffs, the general tone is one of light-hearted aural exaltation. The press sheet pours out a lot of name dropping yet there is no mention of Kurt Weill, whose influence continues to reach out well over 60 years after his death, and, perhaps unknown to Birdeatsbaby, is heard througout this album. Singer Mishkin Fitzgerald's voice suits the rather gruesome atmosphere of the lyrics. Swinging from sinister to funny, she reminds me too of the Bubbles character from 'Absolutely Fabulous', when she sets out to shout out loudly. Her elegant whispering vocals on 'Sailor's Wife' show the many sides and ways in which she takes the band on to greater heights. The inspired 'Incitatus' offers the band the chance to showcase a little stage play of subtlety and heft at the same time. 'Feast Of Hammers' though is a bit too long. Running across three quarters of an hour in thirteen tracks, a few flaws can be found. 'Through Ten Walls' sounds forced and flat, but Mishkin's mighty fine shrieking on the closing two seconds then again makes up for it a bit. 'Victoria' is a majestic composition, and Finale' is also on par. Both these songs are beautifully sung and, full of suspense and joy, bring 'Feast of Hammers' to a fitting end.

Track Listing:-

1 Intro
2 Love Will Bring You Nothing
3 Anchor
4 What the Water Gave Me
5 Feast of Hammers
6 The Sailor's Wife
7 Incitatus
8 Interlude
9 Double Nine
10 Through Ten Walls
11 Tastes Like Sympathy
12 Victoria
13 Finale

Band Links:-

http://www.birdeatsbaby.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/birdeatsbaby
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu6pEtqTqCVhjorOh1leUgw
https://twitter.com/birdeatsbaby
https://plus.google.com/106413295694275620501
http://birdeatsbaby.bandcamp.com/

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