Dawn Chorus, Florida St. Serenade

review by dave heaton

The title track of the third LP from the North Carolina band Dawn Chorus lingers over its opening, slowly rolling forth, guitars reaching like morning sun rays. When the singer begins, his words are evocative and strange, something about a tree with sugary roots growing on barren ground outside of Heaven’s gates. They also feel immediate and personal: “oh what a night to be alive”. An apparent report of people engaged in “weird wandering”, the song also poetically suggests a symbiotic relationship between two people: one becoming water, the other air. A love song, maybe? In any case, the band’s sleepwalking style is perfect for the song.

Its natural/mystical side might on paper suggest Neutral Milk Hotel, an favorite indie-rock influence these days, but that style isn’t where they’re headed. Their style is more melodic pop/rock, with a bittersweet mood. There are occasional surges of energy, but the overall impression is more a continuing thoughtfulness. Actually, that’s true even when the band is pushing hard, like on “The Pearl”.

Dawn Chorus play introspective music, perhaps, but with a sense of mystery always intact. I’m never 100% sure I follow the lyrics, and I like that. Throughout there’s passages that confuse me but still make an impression. There’s also great catchy songs that project energy but also texture. And there’s plentiful moments about pondering ideas, questions, observations or details. One of my favorites is “It’s Human”, which sets up a typically human quandary in tackling the complexity of love: “this time I swear that I’ll do everything I said I’d do / and I won’t let you down now.” But of course, let someone down he will. The song is direct but also circling, repeating, appropriately.

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