THE BIRTHDAY SUIT is a group with six members. Five of them are Jacqueline Irvine, David Jack, Steve Morrison, Séan McLaughlin, and Catrin Pryce-Jones. I have no idea if they were in any bands previously. Along with a sixth member who also plays guitar and sings lead vocals in the band, they create music which is a cut above the indie landfill. Who knew?
You can’t blame me for wanting to avoid all of the predictable angles that have been used while writing about The Birthday Suit. Some of it is strangely inaccurate. Looking over the band’s press on their website I can assure you that they do not sound like early Therapy?, R.E.M., or are necessarily for fans of Future of the Left. Those bands have certain unique ingredients that are not contained on the side of this particular indie rock cereal box. And yes, The Birthday Suit are potentially the most important meal of the day.
Several things struck me while listening to this band.
The songwriting craft on display is seriously impressive. It’s the one area where bands who spend more time on the internet promoting themselves, as opposed to working on song ideas, fall short. Man Without Machines have it. Camera Obscura have so much of it they could lend some to other artists. I’ll repeat that word: craft. Tunesmithery of the highest order. Even if it’s not exactly the type of blade my Game of Thrones character would carry it’s still a mighty fine work of art.
These songs are neither predictable or abstract for the sake of experimentation. Everything tends to sound exactly how it should. Even the string sections sound well thought out and part of a larger whole.
Second album ‘A Conversation Well Rehearsed‘ should now be reclassified as a Scottish indie undiscovered gem. You can get a taste of it from Spotify but if you enjoy what you hear then consider supporting the band’s work by buying your own copy direct from their website.
Today they release a covers album called “Covered Up” via their website. Want to know what’s on it? Better go buy it then! Adventure doesn’t begin with a numerical rating on Tripadvisor.
BUY DIGITAL VERSION OF ALBUM ‘A CONVERSATION WELL REHEARSED’ HERE FOR £8
BUY THE NEW COVERS ALBUM ‘COVERED UP’ FOR £7
