Evan Burgess
reviews the Black Feathers newest release 'Strangers we Meet', copy 173 to be precise...
After buying the new Black Feathers E.P. after a wonderful
performance at the Vaults, it was clear that when the band plays live it sounds CD quality. So what sound would the band actually produce from a record player? With a 5
track E.P. with all the tracks well tested live in the UK and USA, it would be
interesting to see if the studio was used as another instrument or if it would
sit in the background and just document the live experience.
The answer was a combination of both. When ‘Strangers We
Meet” begins, it is hard to hear anything but the crispness of guitar and
vocals. But as it develops crescendos of reverb and swooshes of violin drop in with complete congruity. Then comes
the resonance of double bass, keeping a tight plod that is the one thing that
holds you down to earth as the emotional vocals build to ecstasy.
Track 2, 10,000 times pumps a caffeine high of energy into
the listener. The dissonant harmonies cause goose bumps. Reminiscent of Alice
in Chain’s ‘No Excuses’ the song is effervescent and yet pounding. The vocal
lines are familiar and yet go to places where you would least expect at the
last moment.
Open book is a well known live favourite, with the signature
homely harmonies dodging in unexpected directions like one of those fireworks
that doesn’t seem to stop exploding. But at the core it is quite a simple
ballad that people can pick the main chorus lines from if they wanted to sing
along. That though, is the only thing. People wouldn’t usually dare trying to sing
along at a Black Feathers show as they are there to listen. The intimate nature
of the recording also means that at home, trying to sing along feels wrong.
Because there is such a live feel to the record, you’d feel like you were interrupting
even when you were driving in your car.
The last two tracks ‘You Will Be Mine’ and ‘All Came Down’
represent the personality of the band. With the instrumentation sounding thick
and countrified on ‘All Came Down’ the tricks of harmony all seem to be put into
action to make the three minute song feel more epic than the time it really
consumes. The strings and mandolin are a perfect compliment to the guitar and
vocals, which are the only thing you would usually hear on the song from live
performances. But if the record sells as many copies as it deserves, then
perhaps that will soon change with a larger audience requiring a larger live
show.
Find more out about the Black Feathers:
