aaamusic | On 14, May 2012

The Land is the debut album from The Wind-Up Birds. An album about community, communication, isolation and pure Englishness – The Wind-up Birds sound about as English as it gets, hailing from northern Leeds. The vocals and lyrics are heavily influenced by Mark. E. Smith of the fall and musically there is a similarity to The Wedding Present and Gang of Four (both bands are also from Leeds). Even the album cover defines Englishness – a football goal in a playing field beside the National Grid against a grey, could be raining, sky. The album is set for release on the 14th of May and the band released their first single, Cross Country, on the 30th of April.

The album gets off to an energetic start with Good Shop Shuts, a song about the growth of supermarkets destroying smaller shops.

‘The super store was easy, there was everything under one roof, so pleasing when it’s freezing. And now they’re selling records though most of them of shite… This is such a quiet town, cars just drive straight through… On the local news they’re talking up some plans to regenerate… When a good shop shuts take the blame if you have the guts for money you never spent all the times you never went.’

The lyrics have an important and relevant meaning to modern day life and make for an interesting topic for a song. The rhythmic drums and indie guitar hooks you in and the chorus is very catchy indeed. A great opener.

The catchy music and vocals continue in the single, Cross Country. It’s a good track, although there are better songs on the album which might have been a better single choice. The lyrics aren’t as gripping as Good Shop Shuts for example.

Things slow down for There Won’t Always Be An England with lighter drums and softly picked guitar alongside a blast of trumpet as the song goes on. Wailing guitar sets in for the utterly catchy Being Dramatic.

Nostalgic For… jumps in with a hypnotic baseline and narrative lyrics. The vocals are particularly powerful in this song.

‘There’s two Asian children, you can say what you like to them because that’s what all the adults do.’

The song touches on the racism that there can be in the north.

‘I’ve been hanging on here too long. Sorry for moaning but you kind of asked for it. Well that’s what I reckon anyway, soz. Don’t ever go back.’

This has to be the first time I’ve heard the word ‘soz’ in a song. I hope it’s being used ironically.

There’s an interesting vocal change in the chorus of No People Just Cutouts, which gives some variety which is always nice. Popman shows The Wind-Up Birds at their energetic best.

Tyre Fire is a very varied song considering it’s under five minutes. The album ends with The Land, making for a slow and less energetic but still powerful closure; the song fades out beautiful.

Overall a brilliant album covering some very interesting concepts with distinctly northern English spirit. A great album for fans of Mark. E. Smith and The Wedding Present.

★★★★★

Rose Benge