EP REVIEW: We Can Never Not Be All Of Us – Poisonous Birds

POISONOUS BIRDS is a difficult band to place. Resistant to the adhesive of genre labels and, to many surface-level rock fans who like their riffs fast and guitars loud, easy to misunderstand. This is far from a criticism. We Can Never Not Be All Of Us marks the fifth EP in a reasonably spotless discography, where a gradual shift towards multi-faceted and intricate synthesiser play has seen the grandeur of visual arts take a firm grasp for frontman Tom Ridley’s eclectic and dynamic vision. Looking past the EP’s striking front canvas – artwork of Ridley’s own making – We Can Never Not Be All Of Us is a medley of moods and atmospheres that proves to be the band’s most complete outing to date.

Navigating the hurdle of first impressions with ease, opener We Move, Plastic ushers in a hypnotic beat aside throbbing chimes before Ridley seeps into earshot with his ethereal vocal lines. Serenity and a grander sense of tranquillity are not uncommon in We Can Never…, moments like these form a large proportion of the EPs soundscape that – despite the number of different samples and effects throw into the mix – never feels cluttered or overbearing. While Ridley may have adopted the synthesiser as his weapon of choice in favour of the guitar, the calamitous riffs from 2017’s Gentle Earth are by no means rumbles of the past; they have simply transformed. Tracks certainly strive in the comfort of their less raucous instances but POISONOUS BIRDS have kept their talons sharp enough to strike up fury when need be. Aforementioned opener We Move, Plastic works almost like one large crescendo with skittish drums and skating electronics gradually building to a frenzy. Then, to only emphasise the EP’s two-faced nature, Mood Stabiliser follows as a morose anthem that packs heaps of groove behind curious and scratching synth patterns.

To unpack the sights and sounds of We Can Never…is no trivial task. Be it the gentle tides of Warm Jets or the rasping distortion that stains True Colour’s canvas, the EP culminates in a dense soundscape that genuinely rewards those willing to bury themselves within this vast jungle of aural oddities. There is the odd hiccup here and there. True Colour does drive percussive notes distractingly high within the mix and, the penultimate track, I was sat by the window and there was a bright light and I was very sad (cheers lads), is a headstrong assault with machine-gun drum ‘n’ bass rhythms and abrasive samples that, while serving as a great wakeup call for the EP’s closing moments, will most likely result in a polarised reception. Fortunately, the closing title-track does well to bring the journey to an end, with a strong message of unity beneath the written word and a greater sonic unity that binds the EP’s soundscape in wondrous harmony. 

The minute personal grievances do nothing to hurt the project’s overall appeal. Coming just shy of 25-minutes, POISONOUS BIRDS have excelled in translating a (mostly) guitarless arsenal into a tool for both soothing minds and shocking them. It may take listeners a few cycles to truly appreciate what majesty has been achieved here, but there is no fallacy in the words that good things come to those who wait; very good things indeed. 

Rating: 8/10

We Can Never Not Be All Of Us is out now via self-release.

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