Birdvox – Shamming The Drama (Hudson Records, 2026)
New British folk outfit Birdvox packs serious pedigree on Shamming The Drama. Sarah Hayes, Inge Thomson, Jenny Sturgeon, and Charlotte Printer have backgrounds in Scottish folk, indie music, and electronic experimentation. The album’s most persuasive moments come when those accumulated instincts deliver finely crafted folk music. Its pop excursions, by contrast, have little appeal.
“Sea Change” mixes hooky 1980s-style techno with folk music.
“Cicadas” continues in the pop direction with glitchy and bouncy electronics along with well crafted vocal harmonies.
“King Orfeo” is one of the highlights of the album with its modern Celtic folk infusion and superb lead and harmony vocals.
“Sparx” amalgamates synth melodies, electronic beats and inventive vocals.
“Set Me Up” offers mostly emotive, engaging a cappella work.
The superb instrumental “Gannets” takes you into familiar Celtic music territory with a brilliant mix of flutes and electronic rhythms.
“Almosts And Redos” brings forward a toe-tapping pop beat that supports creative vocal work.
“Grey Fedder” is a tranquil, mesmerizing song with ethereal vocals and electronic ambience.
The retro “Fire Baby” has a 1980s electropop flavor that I’m not a fan of.
“Shape of Friend” is a pop-driven song with sticky beats.
“We Are” offers an easy-on-the-ear melody.
The album concludes with folktronica in the form of Celtic flute and accordion melodies accompanied by electronica.
Birdvox includes Sarah Hayes (vocals, synth, flute, drum programming), a founding member of Glasgow’s beloved Admiral Fallow; Inge Thomson (vocals, accordion, field recordings, drum programming), a longtime collaborator with the multi-award-winning songwriter and storyteller Karine Polwart; Jenny Sturgeon (vocals, guitars, keyboards, drum programming), a SAY-nominated solo artist, and singer with alt-folk mainstays Salt House; and Charlotte Printer (vocals, bass, percussion, drum programming) who’s previously performed with revived Scottish pop icons Altered Images, and Loyle Carner-collaborator Joesef.
Author: Ryan Emmert
