The Tallest Man on Earth – Dark Bird is Home (ALBUM REVIEW)

[rating=6.00]

tallestman2You might not immediately know it’s him when you hear The Tallest Man on Earth. His brand of folk music is nothing new or different, and it isn’t entirely unique. But on his latest record Dark Bird is Home, the man also known as Kristian Matsson has taken a turn for the dreamier, and elevated his sound from earthy to soaring. Lusher instrumentals and floating melodies take over Dark Bird and make it a blast of fresh air. It’s still a folk record, but it doesn’t shy away from production and synth.

Even on a simpler track like “Singers”, the pared down guitar and vocals are lifted by dramatically building strings and low horns that achieve enough subtlety not to overpower the song but still make it feel bigger and more full-bodied. Similarly, “Slow Dance” is filled with gorgeous, flowing strings that make it fly weightlessly. Not groundbreaking, but really, really pretty.

Dark Bird is Home is full of scenic and searching imagery. From the “wild and wonderful trail” of “Beginners” to the “higher mountains” of the title track, he is “a traveler with no journey” he sings in his quivering voice, also on that quiet, yearning title track. Matsson seems to be questing for something from the first song to the last, although it’s unclear what he’s looking for and if he ever finds it. As long as it sounds this dreamy when he’s wandering, you won’t really care. His angelic breathlessness disguises darkness with loveliness, so even when he’s really bummed, like on the melancholy “Sagres”, you’ll still feel light and airy when you listen to him, rather than weighed down by sadness.

There’s a constant outdoorsy feel to the record, with repeated references to nature. Sunlight, thunder, water, and gravel roads make Dark Bird is Home an ideal soundtrack for an adventure, which is exactly what it sounds like. “Fields of Our Home” is a true standout for its quieter, folksy beginning and sudden theatrical burst, and “Darkness of the Dream” for its addicting pop melody and fairytale-like harmonies that explode in vibrant color.

The beauty on Dark Bird is Home is in the little details. The tinkling, almost Billy Joel-esque piano melody on “Little Nowhere Towns”; or the unexpected horns mixed with fuzzy vocals on “Timothy” that make feel multi-dimensional. The lyrics play second fiddle to the arrangements on Dark Bird is Home. The songs are easy to listen to, even dance to, but they don’t require a lot of thought or deeper examination. Even when Matsson’s uninhibited wail builds to an almost primal level, you’re less concerned with what he’s saying and more enveloped in how he sounds amidst the ethereal instruments.

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2 Responses

  1. Your score 6/10 seems a little disconnected from your review. At least the way I read it, the review is quite favorable but the score seems so-so. What do you think detracted from your overall rating?

  2. Hey Kyle,

    A 6-star rating is actually pretty good. I liked the album enough – it’s pretty and pleasing to listen to – just didn’t think it was groundbreaking.

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