Bowerbirds - Upper Air

I got to see Bowerbirds again last night. It was at the Borderline, a slightly nicer but still quite scummy venue (they must have a lovely impression of London - though Phil did keep happily pointing out what a 'polite' audience we were), but they seem to bring a warm, intimate glow wherever they play.



They had a slightly different set-up to last time - last time was a violinist as well as Beth and Phil playing pass-the-instrument but this time there was bassist and drummer on a full kit. It made a rounder, more epic sound which worked well on the new tracks and brought a different feel to some old tracks, like Slow Down.



They previewed some tracks from the new album Upper Air (out July 6th) which sounds just as dreamy as their first album. Check out my favourite track, Northern Lights, below - a bad video I took of it live, and the mp3, which you can download from their label's site. It's a shame that Grizzly Bear have apparently taken Fleet Foxes' crown as 'folky breakthrough act of the year', because I think Bowerbirds are more than deserving for a little more recognition.