Violinist puts out noble masterpiece

Dreamy vocal harmonies, virtuosic violin solos and gut-wrenching development are all notable aspects of multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird’s 2009 release, “Noble Beast.” While exploring a slew of genres ranging from baroque pop, flamenco and Appalachian folk, Bird never really lands in one place for too long-a testament to his diverse musical palette.

After receiving his bachelor’s degree in violin performance from Northwestern University in 1996, Bird quickly began amassing a discography by appearing with artists like The Squirrel Nut Zippers, Andrew Calhoun and Ani DiFranco. Now on his fifth solo album, Bird displays his typical amorphous style through an album that is nothing short of a masterpiece.

“Not a Robot, But a Ghost” drives hard with a 4/4 break beat lush with various metallophones. Take your pick for what is more moving: the sensual build brought on by lamenting clarinets, the grungy organ lines, the clever instrumental and harmonic climax or Bird’s excitement in finding the code to saving his relationship. (I hear the clockwork in your core/Time strips the gears till you forget what they were for/I push the numbers through your pores/I crack the codes that end the war).

Bird paints a beautiful sonic landscape in “Anonanimal” through pizzicato strings, staccato mandolin and electric guitar layered against broad sustained chords from a string quartet. His choice to omit percussion for the first two minutes is a wise one as his lyrics blend wonderfully with the melancholy mood of the exposition. The second half takes on a slightly graver mood with the addition of drums and more developed guitar lines.

“Fitz and the Dizzyspells” sounds like something off Belle and Sebastian’s “Tigermilk” with the clapping, whistling and tambourines so often found in the band’s particular breed of pop music.

“Effigy” features another brilliant introduction chock full of chords drenched with expression-one of the many moments in the album that absolutely obliterated me. The tune also features Kelly Hogan on background vocals, which harmonize superbly with Bird as he sings about a man in a bar making unsolicited comments. (Filling the room with a sense of unease/Fake conversations on a nonexistent telephone/Like the words of a man who’s spent a little too much time alone).

Bird’s abilities have matured in a surprising way-a genre-defying, high-flying journey I hope sees no landing anytime soon.

Grade: A

Download (don’t steal): “Not a Robot, But a Ghost” by Andrew Bird.