When you’ve made a great album and yielded warm
appreciation, the next move can be a critical one. The Stray Birds have reached
such a point and the result is a bold diversion which has reaped dividends with
stupendous quality. MAGIC FIRE has emerged as a masterclass in merging
tradition with modernity revealing an album that takes this trio in a far more
contemporary direction than their earlier material indicated. Working with
Grammy winning producer Larry Campbell has provided the golden ticket for Maya,
Charles and Oliver, with the excellent label Yep Roc proving the ideal vehicle
for them to evolve their music.
Although active since 2010, The Stray Birds made the most
prominent advancement with the release of BEST MEDICINE in 2014 and followed
this up with an acclaimed performance at the Cambridge Folk Festival last year.
Seeing the band live in Stafford on the accompanying UK tour really brought
home their talent in the field of instrument exchange, sumptuous harmonies and
ability to thrive in purveying the art of the old time string band. The new
record maintains all these admirable traits while adding a more up to date
overlay with drums, guitars and keys. The production ensures the intermittent
twang retains a country sound, while various other techniques flavour a few
tracks with the classic 70s singer-songwriter rock sound. Right through the
record the fiddle thread keeps the roots intact as well as the band’s trademark
vocal switch and harmony features.
In line with the previous record serving up a pivotal stand
out track with the title song, this new one also possesses a number with a terrific
melody to the extent that ‘Sabrina’
has the potential to be one of the most popular tracks to hit the waves this
year. The chorus, verses, light hearted mood, toe tapping feel and fabulous
fiddle parts give the tune an amazing gloss and an already good record an
elevated lift. Not to be too intimidated by this heady highlight, the alluring ‘Radio’ glistens intensely and the retro
sounding country pop piece ‘Somehow’
blossoms to a high degree.
Referring back to the 70s comment, ‘Third Day in a Row’ and ‘Sunday
Morning’ are both guilty in the pleasure stakes with visions of classic
artists locking in the guitars and keys to a laid back sound. The producer has
worked with several great artists in the past including Levon Helm and his
input in framing the sound is profoundly detectable. The dark undertones to ‘Hands of Man’ adds to the diversity
alongside the jaunty ‘All the News’
and the kick back feel to ‘Mississippi
Pearl’.
The song writing on all twelve tracks has been a collaborative
effort and once you’ve seen The Stray Birds live, the entity of their performance
is a key feature. Fellow American Lindsay Lou helped out in the writing of
album opener ‘Shining in the Distance,
a distinct track which while being the unmistakeable Stray Birds sound, does
herald the changes that lie ahead.
The Stray Birds are due to tour the UK in October and the
mouth-watering prospect of hearing these songs live increases with each album
spin. MAGIC FIRE has the legs of a long distance runner, explosive parts of a
ten second sprinter and is a gold medal candidate from start to finish. The
permanent class of this trio ensured that this exploration process has thrived,
with a vital record to enrich the Americana roots scene the towering result.
Check out the UK Tour Dates
