"I wake up / Always struggling / Ben’s birds lift me up / Their wings are rustling all the while..."
The collision of hushed hope and survivorship against dark bending folk atmospheres of "Ben's Bird" by London singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer Astra Forward is so emotionally layered that it feels like a majestic accompaniment for so many things. That is too say, it is the kind of song that is beautiful but with shades of darkness too, that it could celebrate or feel like a soundtrack to any impactful life passage from birth to death. It has a palpable weight to it, it is emotionally sinewy and endearing. The rustic nature, the grounded melodies and songwriting add to this earthly song that lifts you up off the ground, floating above past pains and blessings, able to feel them but not so much in the throes of it all. Instead, safe from a reflective place.
As LINER NOTES (bracketed) reveal:
[Ben’s Birds is a vivid and intimate recollection of long-lost friendship and an attempt to bring fading memories back into colour. A prayerful portrayal of impermanence, grief and what endures beyond it, Ben’s Birds brings to life the power and beauty of friendship and human connection, a recurring theme in Astra’s work.]
“With writing Ben’s Birds, I hoped to bring into colour ageing memories that felt like they were fading,” says Astra. “The song seeks to reflect something of this gentle soul’s beauty and our connection, while expressing broader themes of memory, endurance and grief. I look forward to it being in the world and connecting with people outside of just my own thoughts, as well as bringing it to life live with a band."
[The song was recorded over two days at Moss studios with Callum Mcguinness and is the artist’s largest recorded arrangement to date. The track features Joe Taylor (Anna B. Savage/Jasmine Jethwa) on drums/percussion, Callum Mcguinness on production,bass & nylon strung guitar and Laura Hussey on violin.]
[This latest release is a follow-up to ‘A Dream on The 17th Floor’ which features on Oscar Lowe’s film ‘Wormford’, and her EP ‘Dawn/Dusk’, recorded in Stöðvarfjörður, East Iceland, with a band (Chris Richardson, Pascal Colman), following a month-long creative residency there, supported by Help Musicians]
While listening to "Ben's Birds" I first thought of the kind of classic folk predilections of a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (or thereabouts) but when the darkly beautiful orchestrations of sound washed over the song I thought of artists like Birdy and Florence and the Machine as well. Tell me what you think, please.
"The earth comes alive in your eyes
You prayed for a pure heartUnclouded mind
I get up
Anxiety is bubbling
Ben’s birds lift me up
Until my smile is laughing all the while"
-Robb Donker Curtius
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM
https://www.instagram.com/astraforward/
https://www.facebook.com/astraforward
https://astraforward.bandcamp.com/
https://soundcloud.com/astra-forward
https://www.youtube.com/@astraforward
Astra Forward is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and composer. She writes ethereal and intimate songs about the power of nature and human connection, exploring themes of grief, mysticism and mental health
Her recent EP Dawn/Dusk was recorded live over two days in Stödvarfjördur, East Iceland, following a month-long residency there with a band, drawing inspiration from the natural landscapes.
Astra Forward's work has been described as 'bewitching...magically hypnotic'. She will perform live with a band at the Finsbury in London on Sunday Novemeber 3rd
Astra Forward has written with Erland Cooper for the title track of his album 'Sule Skerry'. She has performed extensively throughout Europe and the UK as a solo artist and as keyboardist and singer with Diagrams (Sam Genders/Tunng), The Robot Heart, and Welfare (Pat Whelan), supporting St. Vincent, Gomez, Athlete, Ben Ottewell (Gomez) and Steve Mason (Beta Band) among others.
Astra Forward is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and composer. She writes ethereal and intimate songs about the power of nature and human connection, exploring themes of grief, mysticism and mental health
Her recent EP Dawn/Dusk was recorded live over two days in Stödvarfjördur, East Iceland, following a month-long residency there with a band, drawing inspiration from the natural landscapes.
Astra Forward's work has been described as 'bewitching...magically hypnotic'. She will perform live with a band at the Finsbury in London on Sunday Novemeber 3rd
Astra Forward has written with Erland Cooper for the title track of his album 'Sule Skerry'. She has performed extensively throughout Europe and the UK as a solo artist and as keyboardist and singer with Diagrams (Sam Genders/Tunng), The Robot Heart, and Welfare (Pat Whelan), supporting St. Vincent, Gomez, Athlete, Ben Ottewell (Gomez) and Steve Mason (Beta Band) among others.
No comments:
Post a Comment