Of Acorns and Bowerbirds

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I don’t know why, but these two bands are inextricably linked in my mind, despite the fact that I grew to love them many months apart from each other.

Bowerbirds kept me company for a semester spent studying Bacchus and Shakespeare. “You're the kindling still that burns below my heart / You’re the hooves that lead me through the forest” became a mantra as winter turned into spring. The next winter, I found The Acorn. They brought drums and fireflies to long walks home in the early dark, cups of tea on cold mornings and quiet revelations.

There’s something earthy, dark and mountainous about these bands. Their lyrics are full of forests and floods, lockets, brambles, birds, turning tides and dangerous winds, long journeys in fading light. Each song is a small fairy tale, melodious and whimsical.


The Acorn’s first full length album is named Glory Hope Mountain for the songwriter’s mother, Gloria Esperanza Montoya. I think perhaps that sums them up better than I ever could. You can purchase on their label page, here. And listen to the following, here:

Glory
Hold Your Breath



Bowerbirds have just released their second studio album, Upper Air. You all really should mosey on down to your local friendly music purveyor and have a listen. But if it's a choice between Upper Air and Hymns for a Dark Horse, their absolutely outstanding first album, I'd say start with Hymns.

Start with this:

Hooves
Then this, House of Diamonds

Oh and this. Watch this. One of the best film clips of recent years:



1 comment:

  1. Too fancy by far Tara!

    I recommend such tasteful songs as 'Right Hand Hi' by Kid Sister (http://www.myspace.com/kidsister) or maybe 'The T-Pains of Being Pure At Heart' by the Hood Internet (www.thehoodinternet.com)

    And then wash it all down with a Hardee's French Dip Thickburger (http://www.hardees.com/menu)

    mmmmm....

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