Wildbirds & Peacedrums Iris EP (Leaf)
5/5
By: Liane Escorza
Since I listened to Retina, the first in this set of two limited edition vinyl EPs from this inimitable Swedish duo, I’ve been eagerly waiting to lay my hands on its follow up Iris, both of which will ultimately be issued as a double album under the name Rivers on 23 August.
Suffice to say that this Iris, as with its predecessor, offers a unique reinvention of gospel, soul, blues and pop nous. Yet Iris has a very distinct character, the sonic landscapes it achieves carrying a raw, dry tone while keeping the intimacy and aquatic theme of the preceding, sister EP flowing just perfectly.
Combining drums and percussion with vocals and steel pan drums, which have become Mariam Wallentin’s favourite addition to their textured sound, Iris contemplates sorrow, passion, and love on the surface of the eye. It offers more of a reflection of light than the shadows that haunted Retina, in which the interiorising of those rough feelings formed a darker sound, built up layer upon layer with the aid of choral work.
Still, the honesty of this second work is as integral and rounded as it was in the first. ‘The Wave’ finds Mariam’s steel drum rippling and splattering in celestial emissions and is followed by ‘The Drop’, a delicate and uneasy awakening from a turbulent dream. ‘The Course’ brings Mariam’s already masterful singing to a new level, diving deep into emotional lakes, and amazingly, ‘The Lake’ turns itself into a runaway stream with glittering lights bouncing on its surface, intensifying as the song progresses.
Regardless of current musical tendencies towards swelling atmospheres, icy contexts or expansive states of mind, one thing is clear about Wildbirds & Peacedrums’ work – few bands sound more inventive, attuned to one another, or indeed, this alive.
Wildbirds & Peacedrums Tour & Retina EP Trailer from Leaf Label on Vimeo.
Artists in this article: Wildbirds & Peacedrums
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