Wallis Bird - Architect

  by Malcolm Carter

published: 24 / 4 / 2014

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For her fourth album Irish artist Wallis Bird relocated from London to Berlin to write the ten original songs, and the influence of that city can be heard loud and proud throughout ‘Architect’. Bird has built up quite a following over the course of her three earlier albums and her numerous tours. Bird’s passionate live performances (she has supported Rodrigo y Gabriela, Emiliana Torrini and Billy Bragg to name just a handful) seem to leave an impression on all who see her. Never one to follow others, never an artist to easily categorise, now Bird has embraced the clubs and culture of Berlin to create the next stage in her career and on the songs that are so obviously influenced by her surroundings it has worked wonderfully. The album kicks off with ‘Hardly Hardly’, and it’s instantly obvious that Bird has spent a considerable amount of time in the clubs and bars of Berlin which has coloured not just this opening shot but a handful of the songs on ‘Architect’. While you know from the very first listen that the song is going to go down a storm in clubs worldwide, there’s more to this track than just another club anthem. Enjoying and reacting to a song in a packed club on a Friday night is one thing. While it would be impossible to get that feeling back while in your living room on a Sunday morning, or even a wet Wednesday afternoon, from the same song there is still much to enjoy from Bird’s songs on ‘Architect’. Bird’s vision of leaving one life behind and starting another for this album shines through, making the songs more interesting than the usual clubby tracks and strangely for such a club -influenced set of songs the whole album is one that can be enjoyed almost anywhere and not just in your favourite nightclub. ‘I Can Be Your Man’, the second track, slows things down a little and reveals a more sultry vocal performance from Bird while not losing an iota of that club groove. On the third track ‘Daze’, Bird introduces a rockier style, but still doesn’t discard that clubby groove totally. ‘Holding a Light’ is a different matter. An atmospheric piece that slowly adds layers of sound and vocals, it gives a feeling of space, and, although up to this point on the album Bird has displayed more passion and soul in her vocals than most of her more famous contemporaries who are producing similar music, Bird’s vocals really are special on this song; she really is a remarkable vocalist. ‘The Cards’ makes an appearance halfway through the album and shows a more reflective side to Bird. Shorn of club beats and rock guitar, it’s a thought-provoking piece that still manages to throw up little musical surprises and is one of the highpoints of the album. Tracks like ‘Communion’ add club beats to what is basically the type of song that graced many a pop/rock album four decades ago, and while Bird again turns in an excellent vocal performance thoughts that I was listening to a Bonnie Tyler album kept creeping in, not a good sign. ‘Gloria’ also, while retaining more of that club feel, still has a 70's feel to it and if it wasn’t for Bird’s always outstanding vocals why would anyone choose this over any of the disco songs of that period? Especially when Bird follows it up with ‘Hammering’ a totally original piece of music. It is unsettling in places, but, being almost totally acoustic for the main part before it builds into a soundscape that raises the hairs on the back of the listener's neck, it is also a revealing yet reflective song that displays Bird’s versatility. ‘River Of Paper’ which closes the album is another track that seems to have little to do with the club sound that Bird says inspired her latest collection of songs. Once again Bird turns in a remarkable vocal performance,> One can feel the ache in her voice and the closing of a door as the last sound on the album is genuinely affective after such a soul baring performance. Although much is being made of the club influence that Bird’s surroundings and lifestyle had on the making of this album, being a Wallis Bird collection it was obviously never going to be that straightforward. While that opening batch of club anthems are amazing, the dip into seventies disco/rock does let the album down a little before Bird pays a passing visit to her singer/songwriter roots with those more reflective songs and saves the day. Wallis Bird is an original. There is is no doubting that, and ‘Architect’ will introduce her to a wider audience which she deserves, but although all the songs are linked by that remarkable voice one wonders if Bird has tried just a little too hard to show the many different sides to her work that will alienate some potential fans.

Track Listing:-

1 Hardly Hardly
2 I Can Be Your Man
3 Daze
4 Holding a Light
5 The Cards
6 Girls
7 Communion
8 Gloria
9 Hammering
10 River of Paper
11 Little Plastic Castle
12 Peaches
13 Black and Gold
14 Becoming a Jackal
15 Pearl's a Singer
16 Jóga
17 Teardrop
18 Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick
19 In My Life
20 Caledonia

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/wallisbird
http://www.wallisbird.com/

Label Links:-

http://cadizmusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/CADIZMUSIC
http://cadizmusic.co.uk/

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