Birdsong at Morning released their second full length album on Aug. 26, 2016. The band is composed of singer/songwriter Alan Williams, guitarist Darleen Wilson, and bassist Greg Porter. Following the release of their debut album, A Slight Departure is the product of the band's efforts to solidify their place in the alternative music world.
The entire album is reminiscent of '90s alternative rock with folksy influences throughout as well. A Slight Departure takes the listener on a journey from moody, folk inspired tunes to upbeat rock tracks.
Starting off the album “The Great Escape,” opens with gorgeous guitar, and eventually introduces a string arrangement that accompanies it beautifully. The song ends with a repeating line, “running to the sea,” the lyrics matching the musical composition perfectly.
Moving from this track, Birdsong at Morning hits us with a much more upbeat, perhaps a bit cheesy, second track, “Never to Part.”
Track 3, “Murderous Friend,” is much more moody, starting out quietly in the verses and then exploding with powerful guitar strumming.
“Devils Stomping Ground” was obviously strongly influenced by Indian and Middle Eastern music, and this flows surprisingly well with the rest of the album. “Midnight Vespers” brings it down a notch again, while “Dimestore Dreamers” and “Mountainside” bring back the energy of some of the albums earlier tracks.
“Pages” is a romantic track which includes soothing guitar strumming, string accompaniments, and even the sound of falling rain. “Pages,” with its moving lyrics and music, is a stand out track. “Not for Sale” brings the listener back down to Earth with its upbeat guitar and lyrics. “Kipahulu Sunrise” lives up to its name, with obvious references to the Hawaiian Islands where it was dreamt up.
The album ends with two powerful tracks, “Down in the Hole” and “Lead Me On.” The latter is especially moving with chilling lyrics. The music stays with the listener long after they are done listening.
Overall, A Slight Departure is a success for Birdsong at Morning. The range of sound showcases the bands talents, and has earned them a place among the best in adult alternative music.