As you might imagine, Bluesbunny receives a lot of albums through the post. The vast majority of them come (unsurprisingly) in Jiffy bags. This EP from Brighton band BirdEatsBaby came in a black envelope. Opening the envelope with our customary disregard for technique caused the room to fill with black and red feathers. As we picked said feathers from our plate of chocolate digestives, we pondered the previously unconsidered health and safety issues of being a reviewer.
Safety issues were soon forgotten as we put the EP into the trusty CD player. Well, you get three tracks on this EP. Each one of them could be part of some deranged cabaret show at the Kit-Kat Club. Dramatic, even camp, these three songs show an imagination so often lacking today. The first song, "China Doll", is powered by a pumping piano and features a remarkably effective and melodramatic use of dual female vocals. Likewise, "I Always Hang Myself" is cleverly and subtly arranged but still manages to reek of cigar smoke and decadence. Going wildly over the top in best show tune fashion is "Shiver up the Spine" with the clarion call of "… a man is just a man" fading us out into the deathly silence of the night. That mournful violin just seemed so appropriate too.
It is good to see a sense of the dramatic in a band. Too often these days style is confused with expensive haircuts and Rolex watches. BirdEatsBaby have style aplenty and the musical abilities to back it up as well. Bluesbunny is very impressed both with the band's music and even with the actual recorded sound. Perhaps there will be an album soon? We hope so. For now, surely it is time for another bottle of champagne. And another song.