It’s been a long time since we reviewed an album by The Doomed Bird of Providence ~ nine years, to be exact. Burrowed Into The Soft Sky represented the ensemble’s transition from vocal to instrumental (although to be fair, even the vocal albums included fifteen-minute instrumental passages), after which they returned to vocal arrangements ~ until now.
The literary aspect continues to be strong, as Meteoric Heralds of Danger is inspired by Marcus Clarke’s 1874 Australian convict adventure novel For the Term of His Natural Life, much of which involves stormy weather and the sea. The track titles are taken from the prose, as is the sense of high drama conveyed by the music: four extended works with four prologues.
The ensemble continues to be led by Mark Kluzek and is now eleven strong. After a kind guitar prologue, the players are patiently revealed. The very presence of orchestral elements – brass, woodwinds, strings – elevates the ensemble over the typical post-rock band as it provides more options for a grander, wider sound. And how many such bands dare to tackle a waltz? “Darkly Rolling Waves Flashed Fire” reflects the protagonist’s first voyage, during which he gains a second life sentence after a second false accusation. The music possesses the roll of a sea shanty and the feel of a yarn, enough to make us recall The Pirate Ship Quartet (quiet now for seven years).
In the novel, whenever anything can go wrong, it does. The difference provided by The Doomed Bird of Providence (whose name also reflects such dire fates) is the dignity it provides to the honor of the one who has been wronged. “The Tempest Was Over” is only a respite between storms, but at least it is a respite, while the lovely “So Lately Silvered the Sea” is awash in dark violin and viola, promising no happiness but providing empathy to the character’s plight. This leads to the album’s dramatic title track, highlighted by the flute of Katie English, picking up steam in its finale as the guitars surge forward like mutineering sailors.
Clarke’s novel plunges from tragedy to tragedy, ending in another storm at sea. While this may be too much for some readers to take, it is a perfect backdrop for intense music. “Towering Over the Wreck” brings the narrative to its inevitable conclusion, the tension reaching its highest peak in the center of the track. By simplifying the novel and stripping it to its basic emotional elements, The Doomed Bird of Providence has authored a wild sea adventure of its own. (Richard Allen)
a closer listen 