CURSE THE TRACED BIRD

In this fourth album band went into more serene and meditative direction, but there were also elements of former chaos. This was their last album into small label Secret Eye Records, also last one as trio. Although bands main creative forces seemed been Kathleen Baird & Taralie Peterson, I think Georgia Vallas part had been important, because they didn´t make this kind of versatile masterpieces after this album! Have to mention at least vinyl release has really artistic cover: it´s inside of brown cardboard that has very beautiful graphics without any information, no band or album name. Vinyl & cardboard has put into plastic where is sticker of band and album name and text "limited edition ?/299.

Begin of the "Black Earth" reminds a lot the begin of Comus "the Herald". But soon cellos create loop from the high voices and then start to very melodic round from the low. Kathleen starts to sing first from the high and then low. Piece is dark but also serene. Next "Java Pop" is the best song that I have heard in long time! First start very soft electric percussions with two beat pulse and soon there come very great electric guitar chords. Taralie starts to sing in a very beautiful way in the high reminding PJ Harvey. In the middle electric beat disappears and there comes very Harry Partch reminding percussions and also low vocals from Kathleen. These two parts alternate many times. This is really genius trip from absolutely beauty to madness! But "Party Favours" is again very meditative piece. It has banjo and eastern sounding string instruments and percussions. In it´s calmness there are very great percussion beats every now & then.

B-side starts in "Equus Haar" that reminds most the earlier works of this band. It´s very haunting with Geargia Vallas trembling vocals. Last three pieces are really minimalistic. "Underscore" has banjo and electric guitar repeating slow pulse, guitar also improvising some feedback in the end. Taralie´s crying vocals sounds like she was ancient crying woman in somebody´s funeral. In the end vocals change softer. In "Red Fall" there is two different, but compatible parts. First there are banjo and cello and very melodic vocals from Kathleen. In another part string instruments scratches and Kathleen´s vocals changes slightly demanding. Last piece "Pouring Mind" is almost serene instrumental where guitar and banjo create the atmosphere and Georgia´s voice in the back sounds like she´s lost some dear one.

This and also previous album rise into same progfolk masterpiece category as Comus "First Utterance" and Pentangle "Basket Of Light"! I believe all "First Utterance" fans will love specially this album! I don´t think sad music can´t be greater than it is in this tremendous album! Just like "This Is Fire", this album can be heard in bandcamp.