Labels: Mintaka Conspiracy
Review by: Andy Malcolm
So this is the “other’ ex-Braid band. The one with Chris Broach, and not Bob Nanna. And from listening to it, and comparing it to Hey Mercedes, you can see why Broach is no longer a part of that group. He needed a change of direction. Though perhaps inevitably the Firebird Band maintain barely a thread of a connection soundwise with Braid (Nanna brainwashed him I bet), though that’s often simply because they are still an indie rock band, with guitar, bass, vocals and drums (drum machine). That have a multitude of extra sonic effects thrown in.
And it’s pretty obvious from track one that they are doing things differently, it’s a loping, droney track, kept afloat by thumping, repetitive drumming, and Broach’s familiar vocals. It spirals off in a new direction at the end, with backward looped drums. The moody “City” starts off almost trip-hoppy in it’s laid back beats and minimal use of instruments. Throw in a few whizzy fx too, before it chugs into a more melodic groove. Hmm, I just realised that the CD is up to track 5 and I thought it was still on track 3. Which I think says that the songs tend to slide from one to another pretty seamlessly! I was just caught up in what I decided was a long evolving track. My mistake I guess!
Every now and again they show traces of Joan of Arc style influence, such as on the instrumental “Around the World”, which mixes simple programmed beats and a strange, wavering guitar sound, before throwing in more electronica. But then the epic “Forever” makes me think of U2 for some reason. Hmm.
There’s some absolutely spell binding slower stuff towards the end, “Which Way To Go / Sound on Sound” meanders beautifully in a similar way to Kepler, before it explodes into action, two minutes in. And whoever decided to make Christmas themed song “Gift” a mere bonus track when it’s the best song on the entire record should be shot! Scratchy, lo-fi vocals, a simple melody, beats that pop and fizz. Gorgeous.
Tracks like “Nothing Not Dance Party” are more in the bouncy Braid direction, but with much more of an 80’s feel to the music, duelling guitars play off each other nicely, and Broach’s almost talky vocals (the first Firebird material was heavily in the Van Pelt vein – no longer though) fit just as well with these songs as they do the others. Best songs in this style though is the super catchy “The City And Driving”, underpinned by lots of plinky keyboards, and the flighty “Kiss Yourself”, sounding like a Braid song that never was, with it’s snakin’ basslines and mid-west bounce.
Personally I prefer Hey Mercedes, but then Braid have always been a favourite with me, so a band that forever rehashes what Braid did, with Bob Nanna singing, is not a bad thing in my mind. I’m sorry. But it is patently clear that Chris Broach felt constrained in that environment, and now that he has cut loose, you can hear the results for yourself. Intriguing record, the next one will probably be even better (especially with new member Steven Lamos now in the band). This is worth finding for those who like indie rock fused with electronic elements.