The Farewell Circuit – Birdless Sky
06.22.09 Reviews | by: Liisa Udevald
Band: The Farewell Circuit
Album: Birdless Sky
Year: 2009
Label: Yellow Room Records
Myspace
Best Song: We Usually Get Up, Like a House on Fire
Score: 8/10
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The name Farewell Circuit always brings an image in my head that i love.It’s an image I saw on their myspace page. The picture contains the singer, the bassist and the guitarist performing on stage: singer Danny stands on the front singing with great thought in his mind.It seems as he is ripping himself appart on stage and letting you have all of him and his music.I dont even know why I like this image, i mean it’s only a tour picture but it says so much about this band.When ever I listen to them this face appears in my mind.
This time around with this new album „Birdless Sky“that same face jumped back to my head but it was better – the songs were better, the voice(altough it does sound abit mainstream)was smoother and the variety of instruments playing had grown into a beautiful landscape of sounds.I love the quote on their myspace page: „We have been writing and recording this record, which is called Birdless Sky. We wrote a few songs, bought a bunch of gear, learned how to use it, then learned how to use it better, wrote better songs..“
This four-piece of a band has taken their ideas, melodies (and the love for Sigur Ros) and have formed it into this really cool album.For example „The Inexorable March Of Time“ I mean the vocals are captivating.It’s like a siren calling mixed with Jonsi from Sigur Ros and it’s in English.Yes, i said Danny sings abit mainstream, but this voice is so gentle and plays a huge part in this song(and album).Someways even this song is danceable and upbeat.I think Geoff’s drums have a restless heart because eventhough the drums are laying low you can still hear them bouncing on the background and the beat is soft and sweet.
„If You Go“ is the most upbeat song on the CD and the fact I am pointing this out is that the handling of the instuments is soo darn awesome.It’s just as the instruments take those songs so personal and even the Bass(David) that is truly the kid in the dark corner silently talking is furiously good.Aswell as the sweet kid Piano(Geoff) on the other corner but a bit louder and more emotional.“How do they do it?“I still keep asking myself…“How do you do it boys?“
The entire album is somewhat sweet romanced, insomnia packed and self-calculating.
It’s a sad, hoping hearted, truly loveable album. And you know how the good songs are always listed as the last or the third?This record is a patch of those last and third songs. But don’t purchase it if you haven’t got a melancolic heart or a love for pianos and sad voices. Get this album when you are sure you want something to really to touch your heart and swing you through your moods.
TRACKLIST:
1. The Inexorable March Of Time
2. Good Winter
3. Salt
4. What’s Right
5. Short Term Memory
6. If You Go
7. Like A House On Fire
8. The Bottle
9. Things We Lost
10. We Usually Get Up
