Review: Wildbirds & Peacedrums (* * * *)

In an increasingly crowded indie music scene, those that produce anything genuinely unique are few and far between. However, 2009 has been a banner year for progressive music, and Wildbirds & Peacedrums is just more proof of this. Though perhaps not that well known yet, Swedish husband and wife duo Mariam Wallentin and Andreas Werliin have just released an often stunning sophomore album: The Snake is an ambitious record that unfortunately may not get the attention it deserves, but an accomplished and inspired work nonetheless. The band has been described as a "drums-and-vocals" duo (Wellentin singing and Werliin on percussion), and the two artists remain mostly faithful to that simple formula, removing guitar almost completely from the equation, and distancing themselves from the sound of bluesy rocker two-pieces like The White Stripes and The Black Keys. Instead, a more apt comparison may be to the likes of Natasha Khan or to the vocal ferocity of Bjork, whose influence is obvious during several songs on The Snake. (Continue Reading...)

There Is No Light (MP3)