Wild Birds [LP]

Jm Airis's sophomore release continues an exploration of aural themes and tonescapes first introduced on INDIAN SUMMER, but the end result is a significantly stronger, more nuanced effort. WILD BIRDS is confident, bigger in it's presentation than the rough edge of the first record, and Airis covers a lot of territory, crisscrossing from the swaggering to the solemn in the context of his continued odyssey into the darker psyche of Americana music. Where INDIAN SUMMER was more traditionally driven, the prominence of synth notes, airy spaces and the relegation of guitars to a supporting role push WILD BIRDS to the edge of folk noir, if it's even definable. What's certain is Airis has been deliberate in creating this chronicle, from structure to sound, seeking perfection in even the least audible punctuations. From the reverberation of an acoustic string to a single chime, this is exactly as Airis intends while skating beneath any accusations of the album being over produced. All totaled, WILD BIRDS is a raw-eyed view from above, a polished reflection of the simplicity distance provides and a back-to-the-land reminder that not everyone in the city is singing songs about the hustle.