In a flurry of red feathers, the first album from BirdEatsBaby landed on the Bluesbunny's desk. Not that you would expect anything less than a dramatic entrance from this Brighton based band. They tend towards cabaret, veer towards the dramatic and will surely raise both your spirits and your consumption of champagne.
Of course, times have changed since the heyday of cabaret. Women are just a bit more - well, quite a bit more - assertive and the lyrics to these songs reflect an altogether more modern viewpoint. Take "Jim" for example, this is a song that takes a rather more direct approach to relationship issues than Carly Simon would. It's not all stab wounds though as Amanda Palmer would surely recognise the work of a kindred spirit in the intense yet twisted "Hymn". That is perhaps the greatest appeal of this album. The music lives in the shadows of many a great performer but the words are those of the cold light of day and they are performed with both imagination and conviction.
There might well still be hope for popular music. Pomp, circumstance and dare I say it, real style are making a comeback. Pockets of resistance against corporate mediocrity are to be found across the country. There's Screaming Mimi in Sheffield, Sonny Marvello in Glasgow and now BirdEatsBaby in Brighton. Those who seek such hope should start their search with this album. It's that simple.