Salt for Salt

Resembling a blend of 16 Horsepower’s gothic folk and Tin Hat Trio’s dynamic musicianship, Brown Bird is the duo of multi-instrumentalists David Lamb and Morgan Eve Swain. Equipped with guitars, banjo, violin, cello, upright bass, kick drum, and percussion, they craft songs that tap into the suspense and eeriness of dark, old-timey American folk while veering in interesting and unexpected new directions. Lamb’s voice is deep and resonant; Swain’s is honeyed and warm. Their harmonies are sublime throughout, as on “Bilgewater” and “End of Days.” With arrangements ranging from spare and hushed (like the stark “Ebb and Flow”) to tense foot-stompers (like “Blood of Angels” and “Thunder & Lightning”), they find inspiration in a variety of styles. “Chairkickers,” “Nothing Left,” and the instrumental “Shiloh” sway to a Balkan-colored beat, and the driving closer, “Cast No Shadow,” features a dramatic, klezmer-inspired violin part. Lyrically rich and superbly produced, Salt for Salt is a leap forward for Brown Bird.