The three-person Manchester band Moby Dickless have once again added another feather to the cap (pardon the pun) that is their already rich musical repertoire with their first single of the year. If you haven’t previously taken flight with these storytellers and song makers, then indulge yourself with ‘Birdman,’ an experimental track that tells a tale of obsession through a man who houses fifty birds to the point where it kills him.
The track opens with rolling drums, creating a captivating, hypnotic effect on listeners alongside the distant squawks of birds before the bass guitar picks up and adds a sense of grittiness, which sets the tone for a brooding journey ahead. As the spoken-word-esque vocals are introduced, the story of the Birdman is told and we are placed into his shoes. The bird-like caws of the dissonant electric guitar which slowly increases in volume adds to the immersive quality and tense feel of the song, letting us listeners experience the man’s obsession with his birds first hand.
The lyrics “See the birds were his priority, they came before his sanity” convey the overarching theme of obsession and the more subtle theme of addiction that runs prevalent throughout the track. Even the imagery of the birds’ “beaks pecking at his eyes” portrays the dangers of addiction and the harm it can cause. The theme of consuming obsession shown in the lyricism, alongside the added depth of the bird-related soundscape has developed the track into an evocative story and journey.
Moby Dickless are one of the most exciting upcoming post-punk bands that I’ve listened to, and ‘Birdman’ encapsulates the distinct nature of their sound and the music they make and is a testament to their strong growth as musicians. This track acts as a glimpse into the future of the uniqueness we can expect to come from them.
Words by Victoria Ruck
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