Zoo music, girl

Wildbirds and Peacedrums (The Snake- Leaf Records 2009)
Song: There is No Light

Have you ever wanted to hear the intersection of desolate African tribalism and Swedish avant-garde sound? Wildbirds and Peacedrums, a duo bound to get enormous praise when they top Pitchfork's best albums of 2009, compose frightening songs guaranteed to increase the pressure on your guts and organs (Snaaaaaaaaaaaaaake!). There is No Light has the singer, Mariam Wallentin, acting as a shamaness. Her frantic cries warn the listener of a coming apocalypse, portending that Mariam has been reading all the tea leaves and looking at the storm clouds and only see annihilation. The rest of the album is just as dark and brutal, with the only hope for respite coming from the listener holding on to the drum rhythmns for dear life.

What's interesting is how viable the two person (Often male and female, but not always) drum and other combo has been. Whether electronically with the Knife, or for more twee-pop with Mates of State, whatever music deity exists in the universe, it seems to be BEAMING a lot of creativity into these minimalistic duos capable of creating music more powerful than most 5 pieces. Also, you get the impression that the drummer from the Dodos, Vampire Weekend and Andreas Werliin from Wildbirds and Peacedrums were all penpals as children.

Here's the album!