With the release their newest album Fits of Reason, Rhode Island based duo Brown Bird proves that they are more than just a folk duo, they are a ridiculously good folk duo; Dave Lamb and MorganEve Swain continue to wow me with their talent. A follow-up to 2011's Salt for Salt, Fits of Reason has a different feel to it than Salt for Salt, which was more Americana, with hints of Eastern European flair. Fits of Reason is riddled with Eastern European/Gypsy influences with bits of Americana thrown in. With this record we see the musical growth of the band, with the addition of new instruments and expansion of new sounds. Fits of Reason helps solidify Brown Bird's status as one of my favorite bands.
The lead off track on the record, Seven Hells, feels like a perfect Brown Bird track, the folk sounds I know and love is there, but then, wait, what's that? An electric guitar. Genius. The inclusion of the electric guitar brings a whole new level to the sound. Also used on the next track, Nine Eyes, the electric guitar's trippy, psych rock sound is a welcome addition. The psychedelic eastern European folk rock sound is not one that is heard often, but here it is flawless.MorganEve Swain takes over lead vocals on Bow for Blade. Again here we drift off from your typical folk sound. Sure, the basis is there, but with a twist. This time it's Swain's vocals, which are memories of those from the 1940s, like the Andrew's Sisters or similar, but with that heavy folk influence I love. Along with Swain's vocals, her violin, nay, fiddle, playing is perfect, the bass line a superb compliment to the song. Bow for Blade is easily one of my favorite tracks on the record.
The layered sound and impeccable instrumentation transcends every track on the record. Many of the songs have more instrumental parts than vocal parts, but that's totally OK, for Brown Bird, it works. Fits of Reason has two straight instrumental tracks: Iblis and Abednego. Iblis is the far more complex of the two, with guitar, violin, tambourine and percussion all lending a hand in the magic. Through the song you're drawn into scenes of Eastern European or Middle Eastern festivals, bands of dancing Gypsy's, or other various wonderful things. Seriously, close your eyes and listen to Iblis and tell me it's not freaking fantastic. Abednego is short and sweet; Lamb's acoustic guitar singing you a brief instrumental interlude, a mellow melody, with the personality of a love song.
Abednego leads into Threads of Measure. This song not only shows off Lamb and Swain's musical skills; the guitar and cello "talking" to each other, but also Lamb's lyrical skills. Really the whole record is full of brilliant lyrics. The first listen though the record you almost get too caught up in the music to notice the lyrics, but then you do, and one song after another, you get sucked in, you get thinking, you just want to listen over and over and over.
The closing track on the record, Caves, opens with layered guitars, Lambs vocals, then Swain's, layered as to sound like they're singing a round, like the song is meant to be played and sung around a campfire. The lyrics of this song with haunt you to your soul:
"The corners of the heart are caves and echo with the blood curdling cries of babes we've sheltered in shadow of a doubt where faith is abated by design"
As you listen to Fits of Reason you almost forget that Brown Bird is just two people. The tracking and layering of this record is amazing. It's the same when you see them live too, you close your eyes and forget there's just two people on stage, they can produce many of the same sounds on stage. It's pretty fantastic.
If you can, be sure to catch them on tour this spring/summer. A list of tour dates can be found on their website, brownbird.net. While you're there go ahead and purchase Fits of Reason and if you don't have it Salt for Salt (you can get them both on vinyl, of you're into that sort of thing. Personally, I think Salt for Salt sounds way better on vinyl, and I bet Fits of Reason will as well when my copy arrives.)
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