The Drop

Wildbirds and Peacedrums - The Drop

The first time I saw Wildbirds and Peacedrums was opening for Lykke Li at The Varsity Theater Minneapolis. Their novelty felt more developed than their melodies at the time, but their ability to create music defined primarily by its rhythms was immediately impressive. Hearing Tune-Yards it would be possible to not realize the similarity, but seeing both groups is eerily similar. The complexity of their rhythms combined with a lead woman singing/yelling/chanting is plainly alike.

"The Drop" is a step toward deeper melodic development, and a great one for Wildbirds. The sparse arrangement of steel drum and drums allows for Mariam Wallentin's gentle voice to fill spaces as desired. It is an interesting juxtaposition of steel drum and melody because the beachy timbre usually only exists in lively Caribbean rhythms, and yet "The Drop" is far from celebratory. There is no climax and no rising tension, just a gentle and sentimental vocal line.