Artist: Wallis Bird
Album: Wallis Bird
Label: Rubyworks
OUT NOW
Rating: 4/5
Wallis Bird is a musician who has never been afraid to buck the trend as she has experimented with her singing, writing and recording styles with her two previous albums.
And her self-entitled third album is no different as she produced an album that can not be categorised as she remains an artist that can’t be pigeonholed.
This album opens with the line ‘You don’t shit’ as Dress My Skin and Become What I’m Supposed To is a captivating and haunting introduction to this fascinating album.
And this song alone shows off Bird’s fascinating voice as she moves from the deep tones of the opening few bars to a much sweeter sound from the middle of the song.
Throughout this album Wallis tackles themes of politics as well as more personal subjects; this opening song it definitely the latter as she sings about the idea of hiding being a façade.
But if you think that the entire album is going to follow in this fashion then the second song I Am So Tired Of That Line completely dashes that idea as it’s a much more upbeat, almost anthem like, tune.
I Am So Tired Of That Line is the first of the politically themed songs on the album as it addresses the problems facing Ireland during the recessions - it has almost got a call to action feel to it; it’s definitely one of the highlights on the album.
Another highlight is Encore, track three, as it has a really poppy and upbeat feel to it - perfect for radio.
But she contrasts these quite heavily produced tracks with the likes of Take Me Home & But I’m Still Here, I’m Still Here as she shows a more delicate sound to her voice, supported by an acoustic guitar.
The vocals really do take centre stage on these two tracks as she sings about life, the struggle and finding a place in the world.
There is a real energy running through this album that is just so overwhelming that you can’t help but get swept away in it all.
There are not two tracks that are similar on this record as she mixes simple acoustic tracks with other songs that have these fabulous multiple instrument sounds - In Dictum is a perfect example.
Wallis Bird is an album that was recorded during the London riots of last summer and the musician has incorporated the chaos of that time into her music and particularly her writing as she tries to make sense of events and the world in which we live.
And that is most evident in Encore as she sings ‘It is almost impossible to slow down these days… everyone needs to pause and reflect sometimes’.
Wallis Bird is one of the most exciting musicians around at the moment as she experiments and alters her sound from track to track throughout this album.
There is a real feeling of unpredictability throughout this album as you don’t know what kind of sound is coming next - and that makes this record an exciting listen.
Wallis Bird - Wallis Bird is out now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw