Before beginning the review I should caution you not to listen to tUnE-yArDs' (the eyecatching moniker of singer/songwriter Merrill Garbus)debut album BiRd-BrAiNs if you want to listen to anything else. Infectiously catchy and astoundingly unique, it takes getting a song stuck in your head to a whole new level. After listening just once, don't be surprised if you find yourself humming one of the memorable melodies to yourself later. The result of Merrill Garbus' fascination and later study of African music, the album taps into something primal within it's listener. Garbus' goal is to move you whether that be from the dance-inspiring drumbeats in "Hatari" or heart-clenching and captivating "Fiya". Garbus' debut effort is a sumptuous blend of Afro-pop, folksy charm born from a ukelele, and technology in the form of a looping pedal into something that almost defies description. Even with the lo-fi DIY recording, the result of Garbus using a voice recorder in a basement and mixing with shareware mixing software, her voice still manages to explode from the speakers. You'll marvel at how Garbus manages to use layers to perfectly harmonize with herself and play the ukelele in ways you've never imagined. Listen at your own risk because once you do, you won't be able to stop.
As dazzling as the album is in all it's lo-fi splendor, the real magic of tUnE-yArDs can only be truly experienced live. Check out this live video of tUnE-yArDs' "Hatari":
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