Fish & Bird
Album: Something In The Ether
Label: Fiddle Head
Tracks: 9
Website: http://www.fishandbird.ca

"Raised on equal parts roots and Radiohead" hollers the press release for Canadian quintet, Fish & Bird's fourth album. To be honest that's not even half the story as what we have here is a folk/alternative crossover record of rare quality.

Coming from a small island with just 900 inhabitants doesn't provide a huge pool of musicians to pick from but incredibly these 5 have been pals since childhood and playing as a band since 2007. A love of old-time music combined with a wide range of modern influences has borne out an incredibly accessible record which is as much about pop sensibilities as it is tradition. Despite having travelled the world several times over on the back of previous releases the band chose to return home and record the album at the home farm of band fiddler Adam Iredale -Gray which is testament to how Mayne Island influences the ongoing history of Fish & Bird. With the band now spread across the USA and Canada there's some very endearing about the magpie like idea of gathering musical treasures and bringing them back to the nest to play with.

The most immediate observation about the album is the astonishing quality of the song-writing which is predominantly the work of founding member Taylor Ashton. Melody, both musical and vocal, is in abundance throughout the record with technical ability seguing seamlessly into great tunes. The most obvious comparison stylistically would be Lau who they resemble in spirit rather than song.

Of the songs, opener 'Cold Salty' is all jerky bombast with more than a whiff of 90's alternative acts such as Tripping Daisy whilst the short and snappy 'The Lake' follows on with some Willy Mason-esque quirkiness.

The title track is a beautiful paean to the ideas and forces that draw people together be that romantically or perhaps even as a creative unit and represents a genuine high point on a solidly brilliant album. With the ballady opening to 'Boots' it's impossible not to be reminded of Fairport and Steeleye at their story-telling best before the song stomps off into a country flecked banjo riot.

At 4 minutes and 51 seconds 'Boots' represents the albums only 'epic' with the album itself clocking in at around the 35 minute mark. Happily 'Something In The Ether' is instantly enjoyable and all the more remarkable with subsequent spins.

Fish & Bird are a genuinely exciting band who stand head and shoulders above the pack and are likely to continue to set the benchmark for modern folk years to come. A glorious triumph, 'Something In The Ether' should be right up there on the critics list come the end of 2014 ready for us all to fall in love with the live shows early 2015.

Rob Fearnley