Alternative Media Group

Alternative Media Group RSS feed

CD Reviews News Article

LOST IN THE WOODS – BIRDSONG ALMANAC

Author:
Emma Salkild
Posted:
Monday, 7 February 2011

Sydney band, Lost in the Woods, began recording for radio plays in 2003. There’s an element of the theatrical to their second album Birdsong Almanac too. It’s as though the band decided to take you out of reality for forty minutes and instead plunge you into an alternative world of carnival rides and an abundance of brass. The album has blended folk, sifted in baroque pop, mixed in country and added a small dollop of jazz. The end result is a unique and whimsical album reminiscent of The Polyphonic Spree. Frontman Brian Yatman sings about the birds and the bees (literally not figuratively) and the songs are more of a whistle-a-long than sing-a-long. It’s impossible not to bop your head, click your fingers and move your shoulders in rhythm to the merry melodies. There are, however, a few dark and melancholic moments that will remind you of Rufus Wainwright or a less macabre Nick Cave. These songs, although less joyful, are strong and ironically refreshing. This is the perfect album to listen to on a day when you want to smell the roses and not take life too seriously.

*** 1/2

birdsongalmanac

Like this article? Register as a subscriber here. It's free! We'll keep you up to date with new stories on the site.

One Comment on “LOST IN THE WOODS – BIRDSONG ALMANAC”

  1. Tweets that mention LOST IN THE WOODS – BIRDSONG ALMANAC « Alternative Media Group -- Topsy.com said,

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Peter Scobie, Emma Salkild. Emma Salkild said: My review on Sydney band Lost in the Woods, http://www.altmedia.net.au/lost-in-the-woods-birdsong-almanac/31033 [...]

Post a comment

  • EMMA RUSSACK - SOUNDS OF OUR CITY

    I'm not sure which city Emma Russack lives in, but either way there is little on this album that sounds much like my city of Sydney. ...
    Read more

    Emma_Russack__Sounds_of_Our_City__high_res

  • RUTHIE FOSTER - LET IT BURN

    Ruthie Foster’s latest album is, if nothing else, an interesting one. Enlisting the help of the legendary Blind Boys of Alabama, Let It Burn sees a ...
    Read more

    Ruthie-Foster-Album

  • YOUTH LAGOON - THE YEAR OF HIBERNATION

    Sometimes labelling yourself "indie" shouldn't mean that you sound disinterested and the production value is poor. With today's technology anyone can produce a high quality, high ...
    Read more

    youth-lagoon-the-year-of-hibernation-550x550[1]

  • LEONARD COHEN - GOING HOME

    We know that we have Leonard Cohen's former accountant to thank for his touring, and perhaps also for his rejuvenated recording career too. So often mis-represented ...
    Read more

    leonard cohen

  • PIETA BROWN - MERCURY

    Much of Pieta Brown’s youth was spent moving from place to place between the U.S. states of Ohio and Alabama. But though an unsettled upbringing it ...
    Read more

    Pieta Brown Mercury alco

Arts & Entertainment