The impatient wait for new recorded material from Birds of
Chicago is now over and not a single second of the four year period between
studio albums appears to be wasted. REAL MIDNIGHT is the band’s re-emergence
record and it rolls out with heavyweight appeal. The rock ‘n’ soul emotion
pouring out of the eleven tracks evokes a jaw dropping reaction. JT and Allison
prove once again to be the dream pairing, fusing a tight bond to ensure the
body of their work unveils as an ethereal formula. The spirit of this record
lies in the vocal contribution whether harmony, duet or solo as Allison’s
soulful passion spars endlessly with the aching rock tones of JT.
While forever being the core of JT Nero and Allison Russell,
Birds of Chicago cover a multitude of instrumental bases whether in the studio
or on the road with their contributors. Acclaimed Joe Henry has done a sterling
production job on the record, which surfaced in the wake of the now customary
crowd funding campaign, so essential these days for independent artists. It was
noted that the same producer has worked with Carolina Chocolate Drops alongside
a pantheon of great American artists, and there is more than a hint of Rhiannon
Giddens when Allison hits full throttle. This is most evident in the rivetingly
uplifting ‘Barley’ which begins with
the brutal beauty of Allison’s vocals before accompanying percussion kicks in;
a pure display of secular gospel. This is one of two tracks that did see the
light of day in some recorded format when appearing on the band’s 2014 live
album, the other being ‘Sparrow’.
This live album which sparkled with such precision has
proved the buffer between the new release and their eponymously titled debut in
2012. It was apt that the band embarked on a live release so early in their existence
as the road proves to be very much their home. I can recall the couple’s newly
born daughter being upstairs at a venue when they visited Birmingham a couple
of years ago and this appears to be a continual pattern courtesy of sharing
their touring tales via social media. Full appreciation of the chemistry
between Allison and JT was fulfilled that night. Although, the talents of
Allison had previously crossed my path in her Po Girl days and the clarinet playing
evident then also appears on the new record. This is primarily on the excellent
‘Remember Wild Horses’ which also
displays the couple in superb duet mode.
While the vocal contribution edges more in Allison’s
direction, the writing is almost the sole domain of JT for the record. Not that
Allison doesn’t excel in this field as well, especially as ‘Barley’ is her contribution and she
played a significant writing role in Po Girl alongside the supremely similarly
talented Awna Teixeira. Occasionally JT takes full reins of the vocals as
evidenced at the start of ‘Estrella
Goodbye’ and later features prominently in the solid track ‘Time and Times’ which bolsters up the
latter stages of the record. The penultimate song on the album’s standard format
proves to be one of the stand-out moments with ‘The Good Fight’ drenched in rousing positivity. Earlier eleven
tracks were referred to, but Kick Starter activists were gift wrapped two bonus
songs in ‘Love Kills Shadows’ and ‘Good Dream’.
Eyes are peeled for when Birds of Chicago decide to descend
on our shores to promote this fine record and presently there only appears a
solitary London date tagged onto a European visit in late spring. While the
constraint of overseas touring is appreciated for a self-funding act, this
record has the potential for Birds of Chicago to gain a further entrenched
foothold in the UK. So hope prevails for an extended UK provincial tour at some
point in the future to give this album greater exposure over here it
undoubtedly warrants.
From the stimulating piano accompanied opener ‘Dim Star of the Palisades’, through the
centrally placed title track ‘Real
Midnight’ to the imaginative closer ‘Pelicans’,
this record fails to reveal any weak points. It is decorated from head to toe
in rich wealth and totally embodies the ideals of complete autonomy. REAL
MIDNIGHT perfectly frames the musical philosophies of Allison Russell and JT
Nero thus delivering a Birds of Chicago album to reside comfortably with the
other big hitters to grace the contemporary roots scene in 2016. It’s a record
bursting at the seams to reach the cultured ears, so why not yours?
