STACK #138 Apr 2016

MUSIC REVIEWS

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BIRDY I f you’re going to record a cover of Bon Iver’s Skinny Love , you’re going to want to know what you’re doing lest you arouse the rage (or mirth) of millions of people. It’d also be ideal if you were older than 14. In 2011, Jasmine Lucilla Elizabeth Jennifer van den Bogaerde was not older than 14. But she recorded Skinny Love , and upon its release into the world it steadily ascended European charts and went six times platinum in Australia. Now 19 years old, the singer and pianist – who has gone by the nickname ‘Birdy’ since she was a child – has just released her third album, and the levels of poise and spirit she’s revealing are up near the Florence Welch spot on the spectrum – but it all started with that one little piano workbook. "I had one of those books that had loads of little songs in it, and exercises, like Pat-a-Cake or something,” she says warmly. “And then finally at the end of the book you got to this one good one, called Swan On A Lake or something silly. It wasn’t anything great but it was kind of nice and had a tune to it. I was like, ‘Oh my God, I can play.’ You get to a point where it’s kind of exciting to be able to play rather than just boring practising.” From those beginnings, Birdy has created a sound which balances a delicate vocal intensity with beautifully-etched INTERVIEW

piano that can meander like a stream or pound like a waterfall, particularly when the beats come in. Beautiful Lies ’ skeleton and skin comprises synths, strings and dance-influenced drums: “Sometimes I imagine the drums when I’m writing, but it depends,” she says thoughtfully. “I can write melodies fast, so sometimes they just come out and in my head it’s obvious what it’s going to be: like a ballad or something with drums – and then I can continue writing with that in mind.” But the album’s veins are undeniably filled with Birdy’s piano. “Most of the time I just write a song which will be played on the piano with singing. Most of them, even the ones on the album that have drums, I can

play everything on the piano, ‘cause that’s how they started initially.” She admits that it can be weird to take herself to emotional places when performing – “I quite like the title track Beautiful Lies , but it’s so intimate, so that’s kind of scary because you hear every single word” – but the release so clearly meshes this mature musician’s head and heart that it seems she truly isn’t afraid to open up to her growing sea of fans.

MUSIC

Beautiful Lies by Birdy is out now through Warner.

BLEACHED

WHAT'S THE STORY? We have a look back at the fascinating tales behind some of our favourite album covers. This month: Who's Next , The Who

"W e don't want perfection, because it's boring," says Bleached frontwoman Jennifer Clavin. "We want to make music that's as real as life." You can't poke a stick at the sophomore effort the LA three- piece have come up with: Welcome the Worms sees vocalist/guitarist Jen, her sister Jessie (guitar), and bassist Micayla Grace combing through creative and personal mess-ups and triumphs with an honesty that's far more confident in its groove than the band's former, more impatient and restless sound.

W ith sessions for The Who’s fifth album, Who’s Next , underway, the band embarks upon a series of ‘secret’ unannounced UK gigs during the summer of 1971. On Sunday July 4, The Who are driving from Sheffield to Leicester for a show at De Montford Hall that evening. Passing through former mining town

Welcome The Worms by Bleached is out now through Inertia.

Easington Colliery, in County Durham, rock photographer Ethan Russell spots a concrete obelisk protruding from a slag heap. He asks the four members of The Who to urinate against the monolith, but not everyone needs to go. So the photographer collects rainwater in empty film canisters to complete the job. Russell captures the band turning away from the concrete pillar, pulling up their zips, and the iconic photo is chosen for the album artwork. Who’s Next is released on August 14, 1971 to critical acclaim.

APRIL 2016

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