Review Summary: Focused, yet bewildering. Subdued, yet sprawling.
Balancing the qualities of eerie and dreamy, with a rustic touch, Mimicking Birds play a style of folk music with a tint of whimsical alternative rock that could be the offspring of a group like
Iron & Wine, and the more restrained aspects of
Modest Mouse. As a group they come together to create an inexplicably mystifying aura that is sure to have the listener slowly closing their eyes, humming, and becoming encapsulated.
No aspect of the record has been focalized, and none has been forgotten or overshadowed, giving this piece a profound sense of balance. While this balance is inherently a blessing, subsequently, it is a curse, lending to the sense of deja-vu and at times rendering the music forgettable. Alas, there is a silver-lining, even at its most unadorned times, the record has an atmosphere that is unrivaled. The whirling folksy guitars lay over top of dense layers of ambience, simple rhythmic drums, and often times piano or synthesizer, all crafted to hypnotize and amaze.
While not the most technically proficient, singer Nate Lacy surely contributes to the atmosphere of the album with his subtle maudlin vocals, adding a catchy layer to the ever so persuasive mood captured by this group. The track “Water Under Burned Bridges” serves as a highlight on the album, with a homely feeling of solemn melancholia that brings out the best in the resonating aura, and utilizes Lacy with his most effective vocalization. The overlapping guitars create an eerie vibe that are matched buy dissonant sways in ambience. While the track is prevailingly somber, it manages to be quite alluring with its instrumentals near the tail-end of the track.
This release and band are truly unique with their uncanny ability to create a brooding atmosphere within the folk, and still remain interesting. While not that similar in sound, there is something reminiscent of
My Bloody Valentine with the fashion in which the dream-like landscape shines through. The vocals contribute to this comparison quite nicely, although a distinct line cannot be drawn between the two.
Eons serves as a great record from a promising group who have a knack for writing encompassing music, that doesn’t reach too far from its comfort zone, but really doesn’t need to in order to make a captivating slab of music.
