GF*M Records [Release date 25.02.22]

Bird in the Belly return with their third record ‘After the City’. A concept record based around the novel ‘After London; or Wild England’ by Richard Jefferies, is an early example of post-apocalyptic fiction first published back in 1885. Jefferies tells the story of England’s rebirth following an unspecified catastrophe. Cities decay and collapse, pets go feral and festering human bodies are left to rot, before the country is ultimately returned to nature. Jefferies doesn’t detail what preceded the end of fictional England, so Bird In the Belly take elements of poems (Cotton Famine Poetry, Plague Poetry) and Broadside Ballads, to construct a backstory for After London.

‘Tragic Hearts Of London’ begins the album with a song representing a bustling metropolis, where the only nature available is the flowers on the window sills. Each of the four songs that follow represent a different Horseman of the Apocalypse – Plague, War, Famine, and Death – which leave behind nothing but smokeless chimneys.

Laura Wood and Ben ‘Jinnwoo’ Webb each provide their own unique vocal styles. Laura’s is very ethereal, even wistful at times, whereas Ben’s vocals are bleaker in tone and delivery (‘Pale Horse’ being a prime example of this. They are joined by Tom Pryor (guitar, violin, organ, piano, bass pedal, banjo, synth) and Adam Ronchetti (guitar, bass pedal, bodhrain, percussion), and Laura also plays flute.

The second half of the album marks the end of life as was and songs are directly adapted from Jefferies’ novel, describing the country’s slow rot and eventual renewal. It is not all doom filled as the album’s final track ‘The Ships’, is one of hope and optimism, featuring gentle guitar and flute, to create a positive finale to the album.

Not an easy listen by any stretch of the imagination, yet worth the listener’s perseverance and listening time. The press release sums the album’s overall style nicely – ‘folk noir’, to which I would add progressive folk. No matter what you call it, Bird In The Belly have created a work of marvel and one that lingers on long after you have listened to it. ***1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

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