Wildbirds And Peacedrums - 'Heartcore' (Leaf)

Wildbirds And Peacedrums are charismatic singer Mariam Wallentin and drummer Andreas Werliin. Together the Swedish duo have forged an extraordinary hybrid of spiritual pop, primal blues and ecstatic soul music.

Seesawing between pagan rhythms and sparse, bewitching ballads, their self-produced debut is a declaration of intent: immediate, exhilarating, and just plain new.

Wildbirds And Peacedrums was born of a desire to break free and return to music that captures pure feeling.

After hand-sewing fabric covers for two limited edition CDRs, the duo recorded their debut album 'Heartcore' in Gothenberg in the summer of 2006.

They used a mobile studio, allowing for a variety of intimate spaces with different acoustical elements. Having never used any of the equipment before, Mariam and Andreas were forced to keep the recording as spare and live as possible, using just vocals and drums, with a handful of additional instruments like glockenspiel and zither.

Mariam's uninhibited, skin-prickling vocal expressions invoke vintage blues performers like Bessie Smith through to the spookily evocative folk singing of Mary Margaret O'Hara.

With a fiery passion all her own that encompasses moods from the heavy spiritual lament of 'I Can't Tell in his Eyes' to the raw gospel exclamation of 'Bird' with just pulsing bass drums accompanying Mariam's ululations, to the rock and roll handclaps, crash, bang and wallop crescendo of 'Doubt/Hope', she is a mercurial talent with a breathtaking emotional depth.

Indeed, 'Heartcore' could not be a more apt album title.

Largely stripped bare with only the most potent, select sounds remaining behind Mariam's transporting voice, the effect is luscious, enveloping and mesmerising.

'Heartcore' was originally released in Sweden in 2007 on Found You Recordings, now licensed for worldwide release by the Leaf label.

This very special duo are a musical revelation. (3/5)

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