Bird Names Transfer Energy With Metabolism

By Sarah Cobarrubias in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 1, 2011 10:00PM

It’s no big secret Bird Names holds a special place in our hearts. The once local pop project was a valuable component to Chicago’s experimental music community, spreading their DIY spirit around underground venues for nearly six years. So it left a gaping, bloody hole in our hearts when Bird Names relocated to Athens, Georgia last summer, leaving three members behind and transforming into a duo. Now comprised of Phelan la Velle and David Lineal, the band is preparing to release its first album since relocating.

The album, Metabolism: A Salute to the Energy of the Sun, was actually conceived in Chicago before the band moved to Athens. As the title suggests, Metabolism embraces energy - the dynamic flow of sounds and their tensions and harmonies - with sporadic, seemingly improvised instrumentation, lo-fi, off-kilter melodies and continual sonic discovery through experimentation. “Dust You Come,” for example, contrasts rich, resounding violin and ambient harmonies with a choppy rhythm and flat, chanted vocals. And the album’s title track, “Metabolism,” emanates a jazzy, jangly vigor with fast and loose keyboard, scrappy guitar strumming, and a playful, loungey hook - until toward the end when it wanders off into a day-dreamy daze of chiming, shimmering noise.

While there are some tracks that stick out as favorites, like “Phantoms and Fortunes” and “Dust You Come,” this album is best consumed as a whole. It’s really an experience of sonic discovery, full of refreshing little moments that, with the right amount of hallucinogens, could lead to spiritual awakenings of sorts. Their approach to creative expression, focusing less on perfectly-played instrumentation and more on the spirit of the music, is perhaps the reason their recorded material is as captivating and eccentric as their live performances.

Metabolism will be officially released March 8 on Northern Spy Records, but you can stream it right now in its entirety over at the band’s Soundcloud page. You can also pick up a physical copy (CD, vinyl, or cassette) along with some of their nifty homemade organic soap when they play the Empty Bottle this Sunday as part of their 15-state tour in support of the album. Also playing will be Campfires and Unmanned Ship. In the meantime, check out Bird Names' new video for “Phantoms and Fortunes”:

Bird Names play Sunday, March 6 at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N Western, 7 p.m., $3, 21+