Wildbirds & Peacedrums - Retina EP

Having recovered from troublesome clouds of volcanic sulphur, Scotland faces a far more devastating Icelandic invasion. Though Swedish by nationality, Wildbirds & Peacedrums (songbird Mariam Wallentin and percussionist Andreas Werliin) relocated for this particular recording session, with a 12-strong choir arranged by múm's Hildur Guðnadóttir. New EP, Retina, is an elemental meditation on the emotional resonance of water. Instantly mythical, Bleed Like... No Other Flood (‘the light, it moves too fast when she’s away,’) evokes Persephone’s descent into Hades. Throughout Retina, ethereal soundscapes are rendered hauntingly cinematic; in Peeling Off The Layers, Wallentin's close, guttural chokes give way to dreamy, lush vocals echoing with reverb, underscored by Werliin’s instinctive, offbeat percussion. With such formidably expressed microcosmic narratives as standard, these five songs constitute essential listening. [Rachel Bowles]