Echolocations: Canyon

A few words on Andrew Bird

Andrew Bird’s latest album is the first in a series of five where he improvises compositions tailored to the acoustics of a particular place; it seems a fairly high-brow concept piece, and it is, but first in the series ‘Canyon’ shows that these albums are absolutely worth checking out.

I’m not totally sure how I first found Andrew Bird’s music, but I remember being pretty blown away; he’s an excellent song writer, a damn-fine whistler, a violinist with some unconventional playing styles (I remember my mind being blown when I saw him hand-picking a violin like it was a guitar) and dry, witty lyrics that are too clever by half.

When the range of new music feels constrained to either two guitars, a bass and some drums or a 20-something guy with a copy of ableton and some synths, Andrew Bird is a refreshing breath off fresh air.