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Album Details

• Artist: Birch Book
• Album: Fortune & Folly
• Label: Hotel Room Recordings
• Year of Release: 2007
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2007-02-23

I’m still on the fence about psych-folk, and they don’t make it easier by band in the genre being called in some parts “Wyrd.” When you get to the kooky spellings, the genre has shot some of its integrity wad, or is about to cash in with the mainstream. (Gangsta, or Nu-Metal, anyone?)
Birch Book are ok, but now that the New Weird America is settling to its own codified uniform, they sound like second-gens following the format. Nick Drake is quoted, some psych drone weaves in and out of the acoustic melody, and obscure, hermetic lyrics about, Bonnie Prince Palace Oldham style. Birch Book is Michael B’ee, and has recorded ten or so self-released records, so he has been around awhile. His self-taught playing makes for some interesting changes, especially on “New Joy” and “Diaspora.” He makes good use of an apparent interest in Renaissance music and some modern tonal experiments (check out “the Carnival is Empty.”)
While it is refreshing to see someone in the Wyrd world stress history rather than personal quirkiness, this is a hit or miss release that will either be enjoyable or knock you over, depending on how badly you want to be in the know.

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