Tuesday 19 January 2010



QBiM SPiNS: Woodpigeon, Die Stadt Muzikanten

(photo: Leigh Righton)

It’s certainly a wonder to me how Mark Hamilton can be so prolific and still be consistently fresh sounding on record.  Officially, Die Stadt Muzikanten is Woodpigeon‘s third album, but if you count the the tag-along Houndstooth Europa, which came with their second LP Treasury Library Canada–itself intended to be a bonus collection of odds and sods after first album Songbook–then you could consider this their fourth.  Oh yeah, and fifth, too, because much like it’s predecessor, there’s an accompanying bonus disc called Balladeer / To All the Guys I’ve Loved Before featuring songs recorded with Steve Albini, Howard Bilerman, and Husky Hoskulds.  This goes to further my long-standing claim that Steve Albini is the coolest man on the face of the planet, and one impeccable producer.  I haven’t heard the Balladeer… album yet, but I’m watering at the mouth with anticipation.

Lucky for me, I have Die Stadt Muzikanten to dine on in the meantime.  Woodpigeon’s new album has muscle and guts, something that couldn’t always be said of their previous work.  “My Denial in Argyle” is the punkiest song they’ve ever recorded, and the gusto and intensity sounds good on them.  It’s followed by “Enchantée Janvier” which also struts and swaggers with confidence to a peppy beat, but the familiar Woodpigeon touchstones are still present:  “Morningside” has the same choral of hushed vocals and gentle instrumentation we’ve come to know and love.  Added to their already winning formula is an even greater attention to detail and the intricacies of the songs.   The orchestral arrangements are a bit grander, the ballads a bit bolder, and the anthems that much more epic.

There doesn’t seem to be an end to Mark Hamilton’s creativity, which is a good thing for fans of Woodpigeon and music alike.  At this rate, we could have another full album release by the end of 2010.  If it’s anything like Die Stadt Muzikanten then bring it on, Woodpigeon, bring it on.  We’ll take as much as you’re willing to dish out.

MP3: Woodpigeon “Empty-Hall Sing-Along”
Myspace: Woodpigeon





by J. Di Gioia | Comments Off

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