ALBUM REVIEW: My Theoretical Birdfeeder – Trash Sun

TRASH SUN, the solo project created by August Darula, have just put out their eighth studio album My Theoretical Birdfeeder. The album was recorded during the summer and Darulahimself was the only one involved when it came to writing, recording, producing and releasing. He considers his music to cover a wide spectrum but, in his own words, “It’s guitar music at the end of the day.”

He’s not wrong when it comes to it covering a broad spectrum. Opening track Wooden Teeth starts out with a melody like that of PARAMORE’s Fake Happy so one might expect it to go down a funk-pop direction but instead it turns out more melancholy. The vocals are not the main focus here, the instruments take the lead as the song turns from moody to more distorted sounding. It’s another shift of emotions that once again draws comparison to PARAMORE, this time with Future.

The distorted style continues throughout the album as seen with Hit Different which collaborates with both garage and psychedelic music in an enjoyable listen. Of course, things shift again with Pleasure Gap that features an intro similar to that British indie/Britpop movement, drawing comparisons to that of BLUR and PULP. Sound amazing so far, right? Unfortunately, we now approach the weaker section of the album; Stir The Doubt, probably the weakest track of the record is frankly dull and sounds like someone moaning about life. It just drags and drags. And Funeral Livestream feels very appropriately named.

Things go up from here but it’s not a straightforward experience. We range from going back to grunge/psychedelic, to an army march, to the final two tracks, Smokedoper and Purgatory Falls, that are distorted to point where you feel uncomfortable and uneasy, which is fitting for October at least.

With its shifts between different emotions, from melancholy to positive to pondering, put together with a distorted mix, My Theoretical Birdfeeder is pleasant to listen to. The muffled vocals work perfectly as it’s not really about the lyrics but the sounds and feelings that this album brings with it.

Rating: 7/10

My Theoretical Birdfeeder is out now via self-release.

Follow TRASH SUN on Instagram.