It’s uncanny when a new band emerges on the scene with as much vigor, talent, control, and singularity as it would from a seasoned act. Somehow, the Liverpool trio catapulted themselves into immediately noteworthy status. Piano-driven and guitar-less, Exploring Birdsong brings essences of progressive rock, eighties nuance, indie, and alternative pop together to create a sound that is solely their own; they’re uncategorical.

 

2019 saw their first album, The Thing With Feathers; a conceptual six-track EP that showcased frontwoman and keyboardist Lynsey Ward’s crisp tone and vocal precision, especially in the final track of the EP, as well as talented support from bassist/keyboardist Jonny Knight and percussionist Matt Harrison, who created incredible chord progressions and time signature shifts. Great got even greater, as undeniable growth and experience is revealed within their new EP, Dancing in the Face of Danger (Long Branch Records).

 

A live string section and synth brings depth and warmth, and the prodigiously layered vocal harmonies and backing tracks refine the rough edges of The Thing With Feathers. While there is no album-wide conception as there was with its predecessor, Dancing in the Face of Danger has hearty and lengthy tracks that weave individually immersive tales all on their own.

 

‘Ever the Optimist’ was the hype teaser and subsequent single to support the album, which was released in November 2022. Given the opportunity of a lifetime, the song has launched their career into overdrive. Together in 2018, Lynsey and Matt attended the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, founded by Sir Paul McCartney, and it was there they penciled the formulation for ‘Ever the Optimist’. They even got to write a song with him!

 

Through their songwriting talents, the two landed a one-on-one songwriting session with Sir Paul himself, where they crafted the backbone of the track. Exploring Birdsong describes the track as “a complete melting pot of all the influences that makes us sound like us” and houses a chorus that will undoubtedly be left echoing and gnawing at the subconscious to be played again and again.

 

Clocking in at just under twenty-five minutes, Dancing in the Face of Danger leaves the listener audibly satiated as each track strongly stands well on its own, but still the eyes look to the horizon for what broken molds will lay in the foraged path of Exploring Birdsong.

 

Buy the album here:

https://exploringbirdsong.bandcamp.com/album/dancing-in-the-face-of-danger

 

9 / 10

JESSIE FRARY