Birdy - Fire Within (11/11/2013)
Armed with a powerful voice, filled with emotion and a huge modal range, Birdy has cemented herself as one of this world’s up and coming best artists. Her first album of covers and one original was a huge hit, which led to large amounts of hype around her sophomore, Fire Within. So, has it lived up to the hype? The answer is a resounding yes!
The album’s opener and lead single, ‘Wings’ is an emotion charged track that showcases Birdy’s voice in full light. Her use of pianos and percussion blend smoothly under her voice to create an atmospheric sound that is easy to relax into.
The rest of the album never goes down in quality. Each song feels like it has been clearly though out then checked over a million times to get each note and melody line just right. The lyrics are also very moving. Every line has a story behind it; each verse floods you with an image of just what the song is about. Whether it is a girl crying over a lover she has lost; or friends holding each other in loving embraces; Birdy really brings them to life with her passionate voice which shows how close these words are to her.
As for the musicianship, it has a strong folk/indie but nowhere near technical. Although with a voice like hers, it doesn’t need to be. It serves its purpose, like the guitars on ‘Heart of Gold’ (not to be confused with the classic Neil Young song) that create a soft atmosphere or the synth on ‘All You Never Say’ that gives the song a fantastic swing, they all do their parts for the songs.
All in all, Fire Within is a very strong sophomore that shows how much Birdy’s voice has improved as well as just how much she is destined to be world renowned.
Matt Sievers
The album’s opener and lead single, ‘Wings’ is an emotion charged track that showcases Birdy’s voice in full light. Her use of pianos and percussion blend smoothly under her voice to create an atmospheric sound that is easy to relax into.
The rest of the album never goes down in quality. Each song feels like it has been clearly though out then checked over a million times to get each note and melody line just right. The lyrics are also very moving. Every line has a story behind it; each verse floods you with an image of just what the song is about. Whether it is a girl crying over a lover she has lost; or friends holding each other in loving embraces; Birdy really brings them to life with her passionate voice which shows how close these words are to her.
As for the musicianship, it has a strong folk/indie but nowhere near technical. Although with a voice like hers, it doesn’t need to be. It serves its purpose, like the guitars on ‘Heart of Gold’ (not to be confused with the classic Neil Young song) that create a soft atmosphere or the synth on ‘All You Never Say’ that gives the song a fantastic swing, they all do their parts for the songs.
All in all, Fire Within is a very strong sophomore that shows how much Birdy’s voice has improved as well as just how much she is destined to be world renowned.
Matt Sievers