The Mynabirds - BE HERE NOW

The Mynabirds
BE HERE NOW
2017
Spotify

The Mynabirds, driven by Laura Burhenn, have never been a band to follow trends or give you what's expected. This new record recorded in a couple of weeks after the 2016 election and Women's Day March is politically charged but put through Burhenn's really unique aesthetic. The album was released as a series of EPs throughout the summer but only fully came together in August. This does lead to som cohesion issues right from the start, but Her take on the current political situation is totally about raging against the machine, but more about trying to understand with it all. There are plenty of cutting lines about punching Nazis ("Golden Age" came out before the violence in Charlottesville) but violent revolution is not exactly what is on her mind, it is more of a overall frustration with it all. BE HERE NOW is a call for unity, a call for peace but it is also a way of coming to terms with reality. Because all this sentiment is wrapped up on pretty dreamy 80s inspired pop the two ideas can sometimes clash while at others really soar. "Shouting in the Dark" has this driving bassline that undercuts everything and while the song swirls Burhenn comes in with a far away vocal always keeping you at arms length. The song is on the edge of being something great but seems to be missing just that one little thing to really push it over the edge. BE HERE NOW is also a great title because Burhenn is such an "of the moment" artist. It seems like each album is greatly affected by what is happening right now rather than some projections that she hopes may come to pass. It gives the record this urgency and pace which is really nice.

"Witch Wolf" is a pretty great track because it has this totally infectious and totally exciting distorted guitar line that makes the song feel so incredibly vibrant. "Ashes in the Rain" as well keeps up this pop-drenched but with more edge style as Burhenn let's her voice spill over the track. The duality of her sweet voice and the heavily electronic track is really great. Dancing away political worries and personal evaluation seem to be the two real focus points of the record giving it a real heft. There are times however where it seems that Burhenn is only scratching the surface of these ideas, but not truly digging down deep. Yet it seems like album after album Laura Burhenn is getting better and better, refining her voice and picking her spots to strike. BE HERE NOW is fantastic in that it feels so current, and being recorded only in two weeks is simply incredible. Growing sonically and emotionally is the name of the game in Music and Laura Burhenn continues to do it whether through The Mynabirds or any of her other side projects. BE HERE NOW is one not to miss.

8.0 out of 10