It’s not every day that I open an envelope and a pile of red feathers fall out, but that was exactly what happened in the case of this EP. This was an unexpected pleasant surprise to receive, having thoroughly enjoyed the debut album from these Brighton minx’s back at the start of 2009 and it’s great to see they are still working at it. Despite something of an initial debate about whether or not this band really fit the criteria for a website geared by and large towards a metal audience, their unique style won me over enough to waiver any regulations. Birdeatsbaby truly are a breath of fresh air; there is no other band out there quite like them and aside from all else I respect them for doing something interesting and creative in a world filled with 1001 bands that want to look and sound exactly like Kaiser Chiefs or Iron Maiden or Nightwish and are doing nothing especially noteworthy.
So if you heard the album Here She Comes A-Tumbling, you will have a rough idea of what to expect here. This five track EP has a sound that will be instantly recognisable to you from the opening track ‘The Devil So Charming.’ This one starts off with a gentle waltz that slowly works its charm on me, while the layers of vocals definitely add texture. There’s a classical influence to the vocals in places, and I love the operatic trills that emerge on ‘The Replacement’ which demonstrates that front lady Mishkin is rapidly growing as a vocalist and expanding her range. There’s a bit of Jessika (Jack Off Jill) in there, mixed with Lydia Lunch and Kate Nash. This one rolls along at a calamitous pace, drums crashing and vocally full of scorn. The violin adds a certain streak of colour to proceedings as well, and is even more prominent on ‘Enemies Like Me’ which has a low-down, seductive melody and some emotional touches.
‘Gone’ has to be my personal favourite; with lyrics like ‘Just to clear up this confusion, We, Hate, You’ there is a dark sardonic tone to be felt here and the cheeky wink at the beginning is a nice touch. It’s a feisty and rather bitter anthem of riot grrl power – pretty and feminine but aggressive and vengeful without a hint of self pity. There’s a good time feel in fact, and leads into the kind of punchy rhythm that makes you want to move – I can imagine this being sung at a burlesque bar complete with dancers in suspenders and high heels and not very much else and being highly entertaining at that. This is certainly going to be a love it or hate it release again – and I think anyone who enjoys something a bit out of the ordinary will really dig this. The tunes are as contagious as the flu and actually think they have gotten stronger as a band since the album in 2009. I’d really like to see these get signed up, and a full UK tour would be nice too!
http://www.myspace.com/birdeatsbaby
