The Mynabirds - Be Here Now

Laura Burhenn, der kreative Kopf von The Mynabirds, findet klare Worte zum Stand der Dinge in den USA. Die Amtseinführung von Trump und der folgende „Women’s March“ in Washington ließen die Musikerin im Januar innerhalb von 2 Wochen mit Patrick Damphier in dessen Studio in Nashville neun, stilistisch sehr unterschiedliche Songs aufnehmen, und schnell als EPs veröffentlichen. Mittlerweile gibt es ihre Protest-Songs gesammelt unter dem Titel „Be Here Now“, veröffentlicht von Saddle Creek.

New Wave, Gospel, Indierock, 80s Pop, Piano-Ballade, Saxophon-Kakophonie und Flüchtlings-Chor stehen hier einträchtig nebeneinander, verbunden durch klare politische Aussagen, wie im Song „Golden Age“: 

My heart’s full of love
And all kinds of peace
But I think even I
Could punch a Nazi
In the face

Burhenn beschreibt „Be Here Now“ selbst als “modern-day, political, Hunky Dory” Album und arbeitet nach der Maxime: Anytime I make an album that doesn’t necessarily fit in one folder, I’m like, 'David Bowie did it so it’s OK’. Daher ist es wenig verwunderlich, wenn David Bowie, neben Fleetwood Mac und Jenny Lewis, in vielen Plattenkritiken erwähnt wird.

Beim Vorgänger „Lovers Know“, dem vierten Album von The Mynabirds, waren sich die Plattenrichtier einig und zogen drei Mal das Täfelchen mit „7 Punkte“ - wie wird es bei „Be Here Now“ ausgehen?

Be Here Now is a celebration of love, freedom, and art. This is best encapsulated on piano-led lament, "Golden Age." A complex number, mourning the passing of "Leonard and Bowie" and realizing that it's impossible to remain in rose-colored dreams. She is also fully aware of the difficulty, bordering on futility, of preaching to the choir who continue to sing those Leonard Cohen and David Bowie songs. But the last verse makes it very clear that she's not giving up.The opening title track is a big '70s chant anthem. Its steady slow stomp, chords, lead lines, and feel are firmly from that decade, although the synths are distinctly '80s. It's not so much a song as a rallying cry to stand together in positivity. "New Moon" shifts gears into full-on synthpop, a kraut-poppy Goldfrapp-esque race over nighttime highways. "Witch Wolf," its title a pun on the American Indian fable, features more of this frantic feel, while "Ashes In the Rain" slips back onto a majestic nocturnal dancefloor.But Be Here Now's true highlights are "Cocoon" and "Wild Hearts." The first is a fantastic and fantastically dreamy single that should be near the top of any pop fan's year-end list. It sways gorgeously, mesmerizing you with the little trips and sweeps of the vocal line. That lovely 'oo' at the end of the chorus is positively enchanting. "Wild Hearts" is the perfect closing number, that outsider celebration of all that is worth celebrating, to see us through to a brighter dawn.(Under The Radar)