Birdie emerged when Debsey Wykes, formerly of Dolly Mixture, and Paul Kelly, ex-East Village, put their talents together to form a group. Having met as members of the Saint Etienne live band, they became a couple and then focused on Birdie along the way. Their debut album Some Dusty came out in 1999, loaded with high quality sunshiny-soft pop residing on the sophisto side of the indie spectrum. The set is getting a well-deserved vinyl reissue on July 26 through Slumberland Records.
The album’s title should be a tipoff. Obviously a reference to the great Dusty Springfield, the nod signifies Birdie’s love of erudite pop in a ’60s style, lush and bright and with a woman at the microphone. Opener “Laugh” finds Wykes doubling a sturdy but smooth lead with rich backing swells. Instrumentally, the track is piano-driven sunshine pop.
“Dusty Morning” further reinforces Birdie’s orientation, a little trumpet added to an equation that includes Wurlitzer, some crisp drumming and stings arranged by the High Llama himself, Sean O’Hagan, as Wykes’ vocals do double duty again. It’s a lead-in to “Let Her Go,” one of Some Dusty’s standout tracks, a more assertive (but never abrasive) post-’80s indie pop number where Wykes’ singing recalls the work of Bridget Cross in late period Unrest.
Returning from the B-side of Birdie’s first single (released in ’97 on the Summershine label), “Port Sunlight” offers a stronger guitar presence than many of the album’s tracks. This includes the gorgeous “Lazy Day,” where the focus is back on the electric piano, plus sweet surges of Mellotron and the whipcrack rhythming of Wildcat Will a.k.a. Will Blanchard.
Paradoxically (and purposely), “Folk Singer” is the boldest song on the record, and amongst the edgiest, as it drifts to the border of psych-pop, but still gentle and shooting out sunbeams. From there, “One Two Five” delivers more prettiness offset with a repeated wah-pedal line from Kelly that’s sharp but never disruptive (more of a croak, really). Wykes tears it up on the keys in the song’s back half.
“Blue Dress” is another album standout, this time fully embracing psychedelia with some cool reverse effects, though the woozy atmosphere is far more defined by the blend of stings (cello, violin, viola, guitar) and the largeness of Wykes’ vocals. Sealing the deal is a lack of missteps in the execution; nothing is laid on too heavy. “Linus” is a showcase of Kelly’s guitar, featuring some of his toughest playing on the album.
The singing of Wykes is the unifying constant that stands as Birdie’s raison d’être. She elevates “Linus” and gives the album’s closer “I Can’t Let Go” weight without undercutting the soft-pop vibes. Some Dusty is a minor classic that’s now primed to reach a fresh audience. Kudos to Slumberland for this reissue.
GRADED ON A CURVE:
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