The Hunting Birds just released their debut EP In Its Nature, an impressive collection of songs which tells its vivid stories through rich instrumentation and powerful lyrics.
Although this five-piece hail from Fremantle in WA, they paint scenes of sparse deserts trailed by American cowboys, or country taverns being burned down in red-blooded frenzies.
In Its Nature weaves through darkened atmospheres and bright soundscapes, riding on themes that explore a yearning for life and swallowing your fears.
“Our sound is a mix between folk/rock/pop – we think each song we have caters for a different light of those three genres. It’s always hard to explain your music, but I can say its probably not what you expect,” said Connor Minervini in an interview with Amnplify.
The EP opens with the quiet and mysterious Currents. Gentle female vocals set the scene; turbulence, changing tides, people going their separate ways. There are some wonderful rhythms playing in the chorus as male and female vocals harmonise.
Here We Go is uptempo, bright and optimistic, as vocalist Kendra sings about an excitement for life.
Naive Eyes again harks back to that mysterious atmosphere, but this time more dramatic as male vocals take the lead and sing about embracing your fears.
Hidden in These Waters opens with a quiet piano before Kendra’s vocals take the lead. It’s mystical and spiritual, the vocalist singing about being taken over by a greater force, all the while evoking images of a sparse desert landscape.
Burn This House Down is mid-tempo and more of a country-sounding song that closes off the album with a story of revenge. There’s an epic twangy guitar solo in this one towards the end, spinning a sense of stylised dread similar to the Pink Room in David Lynch’s Twin Peaks.
Don’t miss your chance to catch The Hunting Birds’ EP launch over the next few weeks:
Sat 27 Oct – Jack Rabbit Slims, Perth – Details
Fri 2 Nov – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River – Details
Sat 3 Nov – WAMFest Live Saturday – Perth Cultural Centre, Perth – Details
In Its Nature is out now on all streaming platforms.
