I’ve been so excited these past two days since discovering this song, about sharing it with the world. I’ve had the tUnE-yArDs album for a few weeks now, sitting in my iTunes, waiting for me to listen. Something possessed me to give it a shot on Monday morning – at just the right point to coincide with the spat of beautiful weather we’ve been having in London.
I planned time in advance (yesterday) to have a night in and write the post, have been drafting the odd sentence in my head, thinking up suitable adjectives and listen-scenarios to punctuate the description, and even considering gifting it to someone for whom I think it would have particular significance.
tUnE-yArdS - BiRd-BrAiNs
It’s been on repeat on my iPhone, I must’ve listened to it at least 8-9 times over the past couple of days, thinly disguised in a feeble 6 track playlist so there’s some variety when it scrobbles.
As you’ve probably gathered – I love it.
But then, this evening, it was like I developed a sudden selfishness, a possessive streak…and my intention to share evaporated into a desire to keep the track to myself, a little hidden gem that I’d keep locked away unless I needed it as my own little personal musical boost…
It isn’t as though no one’s heard it before – Pitchfork reviewed BiRd-BrAiNs as far back as April last year and it looks like The Guardian picked it up in November just before it was released on 4AD, so it’s not exactly top-secret.
But – the “Yes! I am INVINCIBLE!” impact it had on me the first time I heard it, and the irrepressible insane grin that spread over my face on the tube made me unwilling to reveal the source of my power, lest it somehow be depleted by multiple users.
Then I remembered I’ve been frickin’ tweeting about it repeatedly since Monday morning so the damage has already been done. Frickin’ social media stream of consciousness.
But enough about me, I think that’s the longest back-story I’ve provided so far – the song:
tUnE-yArDs – Sunlight (we7)
If you can wait, buy it and play it walking down the street while the sun is shining.
I love the rough-recorded sound, like it’s being played through bad portable speakers, the off-kilter beat and the gradual build to full intensity that you can feel from the start just has to be coming.
It’s an American lady named Merrill Garbus. By herself.
Keep listening right to the end for a “Grr…Arg” moment.
