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Artist
The Wallbirds
12+ albums
about
The Wallbirds music has an absorbing charm about it; an idiosyncratic Springsteen-for-youngsters vibe like The Gaslight Anthem, with something of an unhinged folk twang not too dissimilar in flair to Micachu and the Shapes. Not that they’re to be mistakenly thrown into the emerging London nu-folk scene though; what The Wallbirds do is something altogether more epic. Grander, and with more emergency. A lot more emergency. ‘Lying at the Side of You’ is the return single, arguably the debut in their current form. It’s a huge rock track with a massive pop hook, an erratically excitable racket of garrulous guitars and brusque vocals which fearlessly crowd each other while keeping respectable distance from the tracks anxious melody. While the band do sound intensely current, it’s a very time-honoured, grassroots noise that owes more to Tom Petty and 50’s skiffle bands than synthesisers and floppy fringes; more blue-collar blues than the dancefloor, managing to be nostalgic without being retro. Now performing with a full band behind them, and with guest appearances on the forthcoming album from gospel choirs, legendary session musicians and Mercury Prize nominees, they’re a sign of what’s to come from great British music. They say the recession brings out the best in British music, and as all the Wombat-esque party bands fall from favour it will be bands such as The Wallbirds that hold relevance. They’re utterly one of the most ingenious, creative and exciting new bands about t
